Dedicated to lotamoxie because it was your extra encouragement that made me stop messing around and sit down to turn this mamma jamma out.

where the heart is

Warning: This chapter is pure fluff. I'm a little disgusted by it myself. But if that's your thing, enjoy and let me know how I did because then I might be persuaded to right more fluffy chapters every now and then. 

The trip back to Seattle went by quickly. Jace and Zack slept in the back while Alec explained to Max about Renfro's plans and how they were able to find her and the others.

"So Renfro's whole motive was commerce." Max said once Alec finished. She then shrugged. "That I can almost respect."

"Tell me about it." Alec replied. "Well her days of creeping around the halls of Manticore are over. I saw to that."

His tone was light but Max saw something in his eyes that made her shiver. Gently she placed her hand over the one he had resting on his knee. Immediately he turned it over and laced his fingers through hers.

"Home soaked home." Alec said when they drove through the first check point into Seattle several minutes later.

"We're here?" Jace asked through a yawn after poking her head to the front.

"Yep." Alec chimed. "We gotta drop Zack off then…oh—" Alec stopped and looked at Max.

Catching on immediately, Max spoke. "You're welcome to stay at my place. My roommate's real, oh wait." Max sent an alarmed look at Alec when he began shaking his head. "Do I still have a place with Kendra?"

"Actually no. She doesn't live there anymore either. Moved in with her boyfriend or something." Alec grimaced. "A few months back, I took all your stuff and put it in my place so we could use your old place for a couple of the X5s that stayed in Seattle after the raids."

"Oh." Max said slowly absorbing the information. Alec glanced her way. He was worried that she might not be happy with the idea of staying with him. "Okay, well then Jace, you're welcome to stay at our place, right Alec."

"No problem, baby." Alec said happy at how quickly she adapted to the idea of them living together again. Needing to show her his appreciation. He brought their joined hands up to his mouth and kissed hers.

"Ugh, you know what, I think you guys might prefer some time alone." Jace said when she saw the way Max and Alec kept stealing adoring glances at one another.

"Well Zack's place has an extra bedroom." Alec offered. "It'll due temporarily at least. Won't it Zack." Alec called to the back.

"Won't what?" A groveled voice sounded a moment later.

"Is it alright if Jace crashes with you until we get her settled somewhere else?"

"Whatever." Zack mumbled.

When they arrived at the apartment Zack had been staying at since the search for Max began, Alec took Zack's key and ran ahead to open his door. He then came back and helped Jace out of the truck and into the apartment.

"I'm glad you're okay, Maxie." Zack said once the two were alone.

"Zack," Max began. "What you did." She continued as tears built in her eyes. "I don't know how I can repay you. You saved my life. Again." Zack brushed a tear off her cheek.

"I love you Maxie." Zack said easily.

"I love you too, Zack." But not how I want you too. Zack thoughtand then winced as Max hugged him not because it bothered his injuries but because it brought his body against the solid evidence that she already belonged to another man. "Thank you." He heard her whisper.

"Anytime." Zack whispered back before pulling away and slowly making his way into his apartment.

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They hadn't stopped touching since they parked the truck in front of Alec's apartment building. Now the two stood in the middle of his bathroom stark naked in front of the mirror. Alec had wanted to take a quick shower but when Max asked if she could join him, he didn't refuse. Instead he decided to make it a long, hot bath.

"Do you know what it is?" He asked huskily as they waited for the water to fill the tub. His hands rested under hers on her stomach and his strong arms cradled her to him. Max leaned back into his warmth and sighed.

"No. Renfro never told me. They came for me and the next thing I knew I was waking up back in my room hours later."

Max saw Alec's jaw clench in the mirror so she began to rub the backs of his hands soothingly with her thumbs.

"How's your head?" Alec asked in reference to how she was knocked down by Zack when he jumped in front of the bullet and saved her life. He cringed slightly on that last thought. He knew he was being selfish and immature. He knew he should just be thankful that Max was saved from Renfro's last ditch effort. But the irrational part of him was bothered because saving Max was supposed to be his job. Not another man's and especially not another man who was in love with her too.

"Only for a little bit, it's my back that's been killing me." Alec tuned back in just in time to catch the last of what Max had been staying.

"Your back hurts?"

"Yeah, but its okay. I'm just thankful I didn't land on my stomach."

Alec was also thankful as he gave her a gentle squeeze to reassure her but mostly to reassure himself that she was alive and really in his arms. He then kissed the top of her head. Immediately Max turned into his arms and stood on her tiptoes to fasten her mouth to his. Her arms then linked around his neck bringing him down closer to her as their tongues continued to spar.

"What do you say we put this bath on hold?"

"No arguments here." Max smiled and then squealed as Alec suddenly lifted her into his arms.

"I'm surprised you haven't keeled over from the strain of my new size."

"Oh believe me I already know my knees are going to be sore tomorrow. Lucky for me the bedroom's so close."

"Hey!"

"You know I'm just playing." Alec laughed as he carried her out of the bathroom and into his bedroom.

Max pulled his face to hers for a deep kiss as he gently laid her down on the bed. He then lay next to her and took her into his arms again without once breaking the kiss she initiated.

"I missed you Max." He said when he pulled away. "I missed you so much."

"God Alec I missed you too." Max returned as her eyes filled with tears. "Seeing you again was all I thought about. It's what kept me going back there." Alec wiped away the tear that spilled onto her soft cheek before kissing her again.

"Max," Alec breathed as he continued to kiss down the column of her soft throat. "I l---"

The ringing phone that interrupted startled both the X5s. Despite the time that passed and the distance between them and the last facility, both were still afraid that unfriendlies could swarm in any moment and once again take away their happiness.

"One second." Alec said before jumping up and grabbing his phone off of his dresser.

"Hey Zack. What! You're kidding. What! Okay, ugh, okay. I'll be there in…as fast as I can."

Max had already sat up when she heard the alarmed tone of his voice and was now waiting eagerly for Alec to get off the phone and explain.

"Jace is in labor." Alec said the moment after he hung up. Max's eyes widened in surprise, but Alec didn't notice since he was flying around the room looking for clothes to put on. "I've got to get over there since he doesn't have a car and get her to the infirmary."

"Oh no!" Max groaned.

"It's okay Max. We'll have plenty of time later." Alec said hurriedly as he pulled a shirt over his head while stepping into his sneakers.

"It's not okay Alec." Max grunted.

"Look Max, her water broke. I could hear her screaming in the background. Zack was screaming at me to hurry up. I've gotta go." Alec ranted as he bent down to tie his shoelaces. "What's your problem?"

"My water just broke too." Max replied.

"Oh. OH!"

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Max was surprised at how well Alec handled the situation after the bomb she had just dropped on him. He only caused two minor traffic accidents on his way to Zack's. The cuts he sustained on his face, arms and neck from going through Zack's door without remembering to open it first were already healing nicely. And all six of the pedestrians he nearly ran over with the truck on their way to the infirmary would live.

The "infirmary" was actually an old safe house of Logan's. It was the one Alec and Max had stayed at when they did their first job for Eye's Only protecting Lauren Briganza. The two story house had been where Cale lived before moving to his apartment after his divorce. With all the newly freed transgenics, Alec knew their strange DNA wouldn't go unnoticed at regular hospitals if any of them were seriously injured. Plus thanks to the breeding program Alec learned was set up as a result of their blowing up the DNA lab, there were a few pregnant X series females. So Alec bought the safe house off of Logan and converted it into an infirmary.

The process of changing the big house into a nice sized infirmary had been moved along considerably thanks to the many transgenic hands that contributed. Aside from the man power with the construction, the last couple of downed Manticore bases supplied it with ninety-five percent of its equipment making it a fairly state of the art facility. On the outside it looked like any broken down structure common to post pulse neighborhoods, but on the inside, it rivaled any of the well-equipped hospitals across the globe. The former house's large basement was initially what sold Alec on the idea of buying it off of Logan. He knew it would not only be ideal for storage of their medical equipment but it also left room for a small lab. The four spacious bedrooms on the second floor were converted to eight smaller rooms. Of the three on the first floor two were made into four small rooms. The third room near the kitchen was made into a small cafeteria. The walls and doors separating the dining room, kitchen, and living room were all knocked down and the rugs were pulled up and replaced with tiles making it much easier to navigate rolling beds and other large and cumbersome equipment to the different rooms that might need them. A folding bar that served as the front desk with two chairs and a computer system behind it were currently the only pieces of furniture that were present in the vast room. But the room was far from plain looking. There seemed to be an unspoken consensus to make the place look as different from the infirmary back at Manticore as possible. Multi-colored murals along with tags and caricature drawings of everyone who worked on it adorned virtually every inch of the walls and ceilings.

The infirmary was also fully staffed. All X series were well versed in basic medical training so a few volunteered to work there full time and a dozen X5s and X6s in the area were always on hand ready to attend to any of their injured or sick brethren. But for the most part, thanks to the nearly indestructibility of their physical make-up, their services were rarely needed. One or two usually remained behind the desk at any given time in case someone showed up and it didn't hurt that the front computer was the only one installed with several games. When the in-house staff wasn't fighting over who got to play, learning how to use the equipment they salvaged from Manticore and studying the latest medical and scientific advancements in order to be prepared for anything was what they mainly did to pass the time.

When Alec burst through the door that evening, it was Tech, a dark skinned light eyed X6 and Lo-key, a rusty-haired freckled face X5, who were there to greet him. Alec's agitated demeanor got their attention immediately and the two quickly ran from behind the front desk over to him.

"Max…Jace…their babies…coming…water broke, so nasty…but means babies are…coming." Alec managed to get out.

Tech craned his neck to look out the door behind Alec hoping to get a better idea of what had Alec so spun. He saw a pregnant woman leaning against the side of a truck and Zack helping another woman out the back before shouting for Renee.

"Yo nay-nay we need two beds ready stat! We've got incoming."

"Can you handle two deliveries?" Alec asked nervously. It was his first coherent sentence since seeing the bed where Max's water broke.

"No problem Alec." Lo-Key answered calmly. "Come and help me get them in here."

"Oh!" Alec suddenly exclaimed as they walked back to the truck where Zack was still helping Jace out of the back. Max was already making her way slowly towards them. "I've got two incubators in the back too. We might need 'em." Alec's voice caught in his throat. "Max is only six months pregnant."

"This Max?" Lo-key asked as the pregnant woman waddled up to them. She winced when she felt another twinge in her back and Alec was by her side an instant later.

"You alright." Alec asked softly.

"Peachy. I wish this moment could last forever." Max deadpanned. Lo-key laughed gently earning a murderous look from Alec. "And yes, I'm Max." She continued and stuck her hand out for Lo-Key to shake.

"Well you're in good hands." Lo-Key smiled. "Alec went through a lot to get you back and there's no way we're going to let anything happen to you now."

Just then Jace and Zack joined them.

"Well Zack, I finally see why you're always too busy to come help us paint." Lo-key smirked while staring between Zack and the pregnant woman next to him. Zack was about to lay into Lo-Key but Jace's gasp of pain halted him. "Okay let's get you ladies inside and off your feet." Lo-Key gently ordered.

Alec guided Max slowly through the door while Zack continued to steer Jace. They reached the hallway where the rooms were and Jace gasped again. "Jace and Max, I know Manticore's the last thing you want to think about now, but it will really help with the pain if you can remember some of the breathing techniques we learned." Lo-key said in the calm and soothing voice he always spoke with. "Jace, it seems like your contractions are coming every two minutes, Zack look at your watch and tell Jace to start rapid short breathing in another sixty-eight seconds."

As they made their way down the hall towards the first empty room, Zack did as he was instructed and sure enough Jace felt the pain hit the second Zack said now. However breathing through it, like Lo-key said, helped significantly.

"Every two minutes, Zack." Lo-key instructed as Renee and Tech got Jace situated in her bed. "Follow me." He then said to Alec and Max.

He took them down the hall to the next empty bedroom.

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"It's too soon. It's not supposed to happen now, is it?" Max was settled in the small bed with Alec seated next to her clasping her hand tightly.

"It'll be okay, baby. I'm strong, you're strong. Our baby will be too." Max assured him.

"But Max—"

"Alec." Max cut in suddenly and grasped his hand tighter as another wave of pain hit her.

"They're coming closer." Alec nearly yelled. His eyes were wide and wild. "I gotta go get someone."

"No Alec, baby, it's fine." Max said grabbing him and then pulling him back towards his seat. "Jace is ready to pop any second. She needs them more than I do. We still have time. I can tell."

"How can you tell, Max?" Alec said exasperated as he dropped heavily into his chair. "Have you done this before?"

"Alec, I know you're worried and scared, but if you don't calm down, in labor or not, I'm going to kick your ass."

Alec shook his head and then took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. You're right. I'm sorry." He took both her hands into his again. "I didn't mean to freak out. I'm just new to this. And the woman I love having the child I didn't know she was carrying three months earlier than she's supposed to on top of only recently being reunited with said woman after six long months is a little more than I was designed for. You know?"

"Yeah. I know." Max answered quietly before leaning in and bringing Alec's face closer to hers for a sweet kiss.

"I wouldn't worry about the three months premature thing Alec." A woman's voice sounded from the doorway. The couple quickly broke apart and looked towards the speaker.

"Clev, hey." Alec said jumping up. "You handling us?" He asked eagerly.

"Nothing but the best for you." She replied stepping into the room. "Hi, Max. I'm Clev."

"Clev?" Max asked while looking between Alec and the pretty stranger next to him.

"Short for Clever." Alec broke in. "She's brilliant. Especially when it comes to medicine. There's nothing she doesn't know."

"It's true." Clev nodded before smiling. Max was about to smile back but a sudden pain had other plans for her mouth.

"Ow, shit." Max cussed.

"Alright let's take a look at you and see how far you're dilated." Clev said stepping closer to Max's bed and taking charge.

"You said the baby being premature wouldn't be a problem. Why's that?" Alec asked after Clev finished checking Max.

"It's normal for us, X5s. Our mating cycles are feline and our gestation period follows pretty close to that same track." She explained while pulling out a stethoscope and putting it to Max's stomach. "Normal humans are nine months, cats around three or four, we, and apparently our offspring too, tend to be right in between."

"But Jace is nine months pregnant."

"The donor for her babies was not an X5."

"Babies?" Both Max and Alec said at the same time.

"Yep she's having twins. When I left it to Renee and O7 she was pushing away so they should be here any minute. And your little ones won't be far behind."

"Ones!" Max and Alec said simultaneously. Clev smiled at the astonished couple.

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"We've got another boy." Clev stated as she took hold of the squirming child Max had just pushed out. Jace's sons had been born two hours before. Alec had gone to the next room to get a report for Max while they were waiting for her labor to advance. But he only had time to find out their sex before Tech grabbed him and pulled him back to Max's room telling him it was time.

And before he knew it, he had a son.

Max was crying the moment they put the small bundle into her arms and when Alec leaned over to get a better look, he too felt tears slipping down his cheeks. That was them together. The two of them created the most beautiful and precious thing Alec had ever seen.

"Alright guys, you did great, but we're not done. Just one more to go." Clev nodded to Renee who went to the couple and took their son. "It's back to work."

And that's when the lights went out.

"Tech, go get some flashlights." Clev ordered, the power failure not seeming to bother her in the least. "In the mean time, Renee, open the blinds. Our night vision and the light of the moon will just have to do." She added merrily.

Max eyes were squeezed tightly shut so it didn't matter to her. Alec could see well enough but he would give anything for the power to just this once kick in only minutes after it went out and not let his next child be born in the dark.

As if to answer his heartfelt request, the power, though not the one he had been talking about, suddenly shone in full force. The awesome brilliance of the full moon sent rays right onto the very spot his baby girl came into the world.

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"So how do you feel, dad?" Max asked sleepily as the family finally shared a quiet moment alone together.

"Well I already thought I had enough because I have you. But now you gave me the sun," Alec said holding up their baby boy making Max laugh lightly at his pun. "And the moon." He added holding up their sleeping little girl.

"Well sun," Max began looking down at her little boy and stroking the tiny fist waving at her. "I think moon has the right idea." She said through a yawn.

"Sleepy?" Alec asked. Max nodded and yawned again. "How 'bout I leave you two girls here to rest and me and my boy go for a little walk to visit his…cousins?"

"Sounds good." Alec stood and then bent down to press a kiss first to Max's forehead and then to their daughter's.

"See ya later, moon." He whispered.

"Hey wait." Max said once he stood back up. "What are we going to name them, for real? We can't keep calling them sun and moon."

"Why not?"

"Alec."

"Just kidding, Maxie. Why don't you sleep on it. You really look exhausted. I'll go round up some ideas and we'll decide later."

"Kay."

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Alec returned to Max's room twenty minutes later to find her sleeping. He still hadn't come up with any names not that he found much help when he asked the others. Tech was named by Lo-Key because of his skills as a technician. Clev and Lo-Key named themselves based on their characteristics. None of which helped him because his babies were just babies and therefore had no special skills or much of a personality yet. 07 wasn't quite ready to let Manticore go so he just shortened his designation to the last two numbers. Renee chose the name she was given during a mission for Manticore. Jace was asleep. Zack was having his chest wound looked over by Scout and neither man seemed particularly interested when he explained his dilemma.

"Guess we'll stick with sun and moon for now." He whispered as he lay his son in the dresser drawer his daughter was sleeping in.

"We're gonna have to do better than this too." Alec said looking down at the drawer. It was all they had on short notice. The towels and sheets they used as bedding made it look comfy enough but they could do better. Thinking of the supplies he needed to add to the hospital inevitably led him to thoughts of what he and Max would need at home. He'd only been prepared for Max when he moved her stuff into his small apartment months ago. Now he had not one but two babies which meant twice of everything. Two cribs, two high chairs, two car seats, two baby monitors, two bottles, two toys (a girl one and a boy one), and two baby cages. Where would he fit all that stuff?

"We need a whole new place." He said aloud. But where? Seattle wasn't exactly brimming with prime real estate; especially a place big enough for him, Max, and their twins. But moving out of Seattle wasn't really an option either. Not yet anyway. Even though he had found Max, the fight still wasn't over. There were still at least two more Manticore facilities out there which meant the committee had bases to send people after them. Seattle was the hub of the transgenic underground and he was one of the last people who could leave. He wouldn't. He had to see this thing through to the very end especially now that he had much more to lose.

They'd stay in Seattle but the question of where still remained. Sector 12 was out of the question; even the girl scouts were packing there. Sector 9 was too pricey and that would just draw undue attention. Sector 5 was too noisy; what with the nightly—.

"Didn't you spend enough time in iso for that habit 494?" Alec looked up to see Clev standing in the doorway.

"Huh?" He said distractedly. "Oh." He quickly dropped his hand with the thumb he had been nibbling on.

"What's up?" Clev asked quietly not wanting to disturb any of the sleeping occupants. "I only ever seen you do that when you were worried or upset about something and you've got three reasons to be very very happy."

Alec attacked an itch in the back of his head for a moment before replying. "Yeah I know. Just thinking about what happens now."

Not really knowing how to comment Clev just nodded before reaching into her pocket. "This was ringing in your jacket." She said tossing him the phone.

Alec looked down at the display and saw Sketchy was the last number that called. The search for Max and the fallout from the raids had pretty much monopolized all of his time but every once in a while he'd get together with Sketchy, O.C. and the rest of the Jam Pony gang for an hour, or in some rare instances when he could stand more, two hours at Crash. It was a nice change hearing the trivial complaints of his former co-workers. Sketchy was probably calling to invite him out.

Alec looked up suddenly as a memory surfaced.

"Hey Clev. I gotta go. I'll be back as soon as I can. If Max wakes up can you tell her that?"

"Will do." Clev answered cheerily.

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"You joking, right?"

"No, I'm serious, O.C." Alec lied.

His bike had been locked up in the truck they drove from Waltonville and Alec took it to get to Crash. After scanning the room for a couple a seconds, he spotted Original Cindy at the bar. Once quickly dashing over to her, he asked if he could talk to her outside where it was less noisy. Now standing outside in the empty alley behind Crash, the petite, feisty woman stared up at him, arms crossed in front of her chest and attitude written all over her face.

"You mean to tell me that my home girl skipped town for all this time because she was embarrassed 'bout being knocked up. That's just whack."

"If you knew her family history you'd understand. Her folks were real strict." Alec explained. "Really really strict."

"So what was you're problem these last few months? Acting all Heathcliff-like." Original Cindy suddenly cocked her head as she thought of something. "Wait, you are the baby daddy right?"

"Of course!"

"Just checking, boo." O.C. smiled before nodding her head sagely. "And Original Cindy understands why you've been tripping these past few months too. It ain't easy raising a seed nowadays and on a Jam Pony salary too. No wonder you quit."

"Ugh yeah." Alec quickly agreed to O.C.'s logic. "I found something that paid a little better and had to take it. I've been pretty stressed out these past few months and I wasn't ready to tell you guys what was up with Max and me. Plus my new job's hard work and keeps me pretty busy, but I've got a family to take care of so it's gotta be done."

"Coming correct for my girl." O.C. smiled. "You make a believer outta Original Cindy that not all members of the three legged gender are useless."

"I'm just trying to do right." Alec beamed as he soaked up the praise. "That's actually why I came here tonight. I need to talk to Sketch. You seen him?"

"Sorry boo, wigga was faded five minutes after he called you. Herbal took him home hours ago. Why you need to talk to him?"

"I remember a while back he said he needed help winning his girlfriend, Nancy—

"Natalie." O.C. corrected.

"Yeah, Natalie. He wanted my advice on how to win her back after she found out he was cheating on her. Long story short, my advice didn't help and he told me she had moved back to Idaho to live with her mom. Anyway she had a nice apartment and I was wondering if it was still for rent."

"Doesn't Sketchy live there?"

"He had to move out because he can't hack the rent on his own."

"Oh right."

"My place is not big enough for me, Max and the twins."

"Twins!"

"Yeah, we had twins."

"Had!"

"Oh I didn't tell you. Max had the babies a couple hours ago."

"Max had the babies and you standing here gabbing to me about Sketchy and apartments! What hospital she in? Did she have twin girls or twin boys or one of each? What ya'll name them. Damn, Alec I thought we was cool. How you gonna hold back the 411 on me like that!"

Alec saw where O.C.'s line of question was going, and he knew that he couldn't take Original Cindy to the transgenic's infirmary.

"She's not in a hospital. She's at her cousin's. She had a…" Alec searched his memory for the right terminology. Manticore definitely couldn't care less whether their soldiers know the ins and outs of child birth. "A mid wife." He nearly shouted when the elusive word finally came to him.

"Well when can I see her or them babies? I bet they're cute."

"I want to bring her home soon. Actually I'd rather bring her home to a bigger place."

"Say no more, sugah. Auntie O.C. got this. I'll check on Sketchy's ole place and get Kendra to help me fix it up if it's ready. If not, we'll keep looking until we find something good enough for you, my boo, and the little munchkins. Right now, you need to get back to Max."

"No Cindy. I can't ask you to do that."

"Ain't nobody said nothing 'bout asking. I'm telling you this is what Original Cindy's gonna do. It'd be my baby shower gift and congratulations gift all rolled in one."

Not knowing what his babies taking a shower had to do with anything, he settled for smiling and planting a quick kiss on O.C.'s cheek in appreciation.

"Get outta here, you." Original Cindy blushed. "I'll call you when I've got something."

"Thanks again." Alec said before hurrying out of Crash eager to get back to Max and his children.

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"This is so crazy. I just can't believe it."

"Believe what?"

"First Tinga, now Jace and you." Syl shook her head slowly. "My baby sister having babies."

"Why are you so surprised?"
"I just never thought this kind of thing could happen for any of us. I mean I was always too busy running for my life."

"I know what you mean. And honestly this is not something I ever imagined having either." Max's face broke into a gigantic smile as she looked down at the babies cradled in each of her arms. "Look at them. They're perfect. I had no idea I could ever be apart of something so perfect."

Syl looked up to see Alec leaning against the door frame. He was staring at Max holding his children and wearing a smile as big as hers.

"You truly are lucky, Maxie." Syl uttered softly while still watching Alec watch Max.

"Hey what are you doing standing out here?" Max looked up at the sound of Jace's voice and saw Alec in the doorway with Jace and Zack behind him.

"What are you doing walking around already?" Alec asked.

"I had babies." Jace rolled her eyes. "My legs are fine." As if to prove it, she quickly moved passed him into Max's room. Alec looked from her to Zack who held up his hands in surrender.

"I've already learned not to question an X5 female before, during, and after giving birth."

"Sound advice." Alec said before following Jace into the room.

"Oh he's so adorable Jace." Max cooed. "Where's his brother?"

"He's sleeping in my room. Tech is in there with him. I wanted to walk around and since he was up, I figured now would be a good time for you to meet your namesake."

"You named him Max?" Max felt her eyes tearing up. "Why?"

"I know I wouldn't have survived these past few months in there without you." Jace said as her eyes teared up as well. "And I know I wouldn't have been freed without you." She said turning around to face Alec. "So I hope you don't mind that I borrowed your name too."

"No." Alec got out past the lump in his throat. "I don't mind at all."

None of the X5s dealt with emotion well so they each shifted nervously as they tried to think of a way to lighten the mood. Alec moved to the chair next to Max's bed. Jace and Syl took spots on the foot of Max's bed while Zack remained standing awkwardly in the door way.

"So what are their names?" Jace asked breaking the uncomfortable silence.

All eyes flew first to Max and then to Alec and back again when the new parents remained silent.

"Well we've been calling them "sun" and "moon"." Alec offered lamely.

"Well that's different." Jace said slowly when no one else spoke.
"No, no you can't name them that." Syl shook her head. "I mean I can understand doing the whole unique thing," Syl continued. "But sun and moon? Way to celestial. Ooh celestial…celest."

"Naw that's nice but not really unique." Max stated.

"Unique?" Syl offered.

"Uh, no." Both Max and Alec said.

"Okay, so you're sticking with the sun and moon theme." Syl said. "How about Apollo, the sun god?

"No." Alec wrinkled his nose. "Too annoying to say. Plus it has no foreseeable nickname. Apo. Pollo. Pollie. No." He finished with a shake of his head.

"What about Aaron?" Jace suggested.

"That's common." Syl shrugged.

"Not if you spell it ARUN. Spelled that way it means sun in India."

"Why are you such an expert on the origin of names?" Syl asked.

Jace shrugged. "Manticore was cruel but they weren't heartless. Actually, yes they were. But I was allowed reading material instead of just staring at the walls all day when I got taken off of active duty. Names of characters and where they came from always stood out. I guess, because I was so conditioned to numbers."

Alec nodded in agreement before saying. "Hey what does my name mean?"

"Um either protector or defender of mankind."

"Ooh I like that. It's like I'm a superhero." Everyone rolled their eyes. Alec cleared his throat and turned to Max. "So Arun?"

"Yeah." Max smiled. "I like it. Know any names that mean "moon." She then asked.

"Actually yeah. Arana has an Australian origin meaning moon."

"So Arana and Arun." Alec thought out loud. "Won't that get confusing."

"Maybe for you." Zack said.

"Ha. Funny." Alec bit back. He then shrugged. "It's up to you, Max."

"I don't know, maybe. What else you got?"

"Well Jace mean's moon, but I mean that's my name and just because I named—"

"I couldn't have survived without you either Jace. That's perfect." Max smiled. She then looked up at Alec. "Baby?"

"Yeah, perfect." He smiled at first Max and then Jace.

"Well then Jace and Arun it is." Max chimed.
"Man, I still can't believe, my sisters have babies. I feel like I have to catch up or something." Syl said. "What are you doing later, Zack?"

All the X5s including Zack laughed at that.

"Sorry, Syl. Babies and me definitely don't mix."

"What are you talking about?" Jace said. "You were really great in there with me."

"I didn't do anything, except maybe act as your punching bag." Jace grinned.

"And that was much appreciated."

"Do you want to hold one, Zack?" Max asked gently after once again catching Zack staring at her babies. Immediately his eyes sprang up to hers as he began protesting.

"Ugh, he's so small. I might. I don't want to break him or drop him."

"Don't be silly, Zack. He'll be fine. You too." Max encouraged.

"Maxie, he could wiggle right outta-"

"Here." Jace cut in as she stood up and plopped little Max into Zack's arms. "Practice on this one." The group laughed first at Zack's startled expression and then at the sight of their stoic brother dissolving into a nervous wreck as he tried to maneuver the small bundle in his arms. When Jace saw that Zack finally had everything under control she stepped away and sat back down on the edge of Max's bed.

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Both Jace and Max were more than ready to be out of the infirmary by the next afternoon and since they were fine and the babies were too, Clev had no problems discharging them.

Jace returned to Zack's place for lack of another place to go. Meanwhile it wasn't until Max had been riding in Syl's car for twenty minutes that she realized they were no where near Alec's place.

"Where are we going?" She finally asked.

Alec smiled and gave Max a wink. "I got a little surprise for you. Sit tight."

It turned out they were both in for the surprise. Alec had gotten the call last night from O.C. that Natalie's old place was a go. He gave Original Cindy the money for the rent and security and let her handle it so he could stay with Max.

Kendra and O.C. had enlisted the help of a few of their Jam Pony pals, some of which where X series and they spent the whole night and part of the morning fixing the place up for Max, Alec and the twins.

Walking in Max was of course pleased to see the spacious apartment in comparison to Alec's. Alec had already seen it so it wasn't a big deal to him especially since their friends just moved all of their stuff from his old place to their new one. However he hadn't been prepared for the sight that greeted him when he walked into the second bedroom. And judging by the tears running down Max's face, she hadn't been either.

Kendra and O.C. had done a spectacular job on the nursery. Two cribs rested against the adjacent walls on one side of the room. The bedding was fluffy and colorful. The complete opposite of what they were used to in Manticore or living on the streets. Everything from the wall paper to the lighting to the carpeting was soft and welcoming. Stuffed toys of all shapes and sizes lined the shelves, the cribs, and the changing table. There was even a huge fluffy white bunny seated in the rocking chair on the other side of the room. Next to the rocking chair was a book case stocked with how to books, story books, counting books, fluffy books, and musical books. Neither Max nor Alec had any idea that two small beings could need all of this stuff. It was amazing. To Max, this was what the Good Place must look like. And to Alec, he finally understood what he had been longing for all that time he had been in Manticore unable to describe what was needed to fill that hole in his soul.

"So do you like it?" Original Cindy asked from behind them.

Max turned to face her friend but couldn't find the words. Instead she threw herself into O.C.'s arms.

"Thank you." Max sobbed as she hugged Original Cindy. "Thank you so much."

"Thanks for coming back, boo." O.C. whispered as she squeezed Max and rubbed her back.

"We really missed you." Kendra added before handing Arun to Alec and then hugging Max too.

Alec put the sleeping twins down in their respective cribs before joining in on the hugs.

"So now what?" O.C. asked once the hugging and crying had stopped. "You two getting hitched."

"Yeah, when's the wedding?" Kendra asked.

Max and Alec looked at each other before surprising Kendra and Original Cindy by bursting out laughing.

When the couple saw that their friends were genuinely confused by their reaction, they back tracked.

"Actually we were thinking…we, Max?"

"Ugh yeah, we just…well with the timing and Alec?"

"There's a lot of thinking and planning we still have to do."

Both O.C. and Kendra's eyebrows were raised at the way their friends awkwardly side stepped the issue, but neither woman commented further.

"I guess we best leave this new family to themselves." Original Cindy suggested.

"No stay." Max argued. "I feel like we should make you lunch or dinner or something."

"We'll take a rain check, sweetie." Kendra smiled. "After all you two have a lot of planning to do."

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As soon as Kendra and Original Cindy left, Arun woke up hungry. While Alec watched Max feed him, his own stomach growled and he realized that not only did he not eat in a while but there was no food in the house.

"Pizza?"

"Hmm."

"For dinner." Alec clarified. "Should I order pizza?"

"Oh whatever." Max said not taking her eyes off her son suckling her breast.

Alec smiled and moved over to them. Kneeling in front of her, he took hold of one of his son's tiny fists.

"Look at him go." He said in awe.

"He's definitely got an X5's appetite."

"Look at these little toes." Alec said as he held up a tiny foot. "He's got your eyes, Maxie. He's got a lot of you." Alec continued as he gently rubbed the soft, dark hair on his son's head.

"But look at that smile." Max grinned. "That's all you."

A cry from the crib had Alec on his feet a second later.

"We didn't forget about you, Jacey." Alec cooed as he picked up his daughter. He carried her over to Max.

"You about done, little man, cause your sister's hungry." When Arun didn't look like he'd be slowing down anytime soon, Max shifted him over and then held out her other arm.

"Here. Just put her here." Alec gently placed Jace in Max's arm before stepping back to admire the sight of his…Max…feeding their children.

"Hey Max, do you think, maybe we should, you know, like what O.C. and Kendra were saying."

"You mean get married?"

"Yeah." Alec nodded before returning to his kneeling position completely oblivious to its meaning especially considering the conversation they were having.

Max was quiet for a moment. She watched her babies feeding and then looked up at Alec staring at her.

When the concept of marriage was first explained to her it went something like two people meet, fall in love, and then get married so they can have babies and live together forever as a family. Well Max was in love, they already had babies and she couldn't imagine ever not being with Alec. But getting married had nothing to do with any of that. So was it necessary now?

"I really don't know." Max answered honestly. "I've thought about it ever since I found out about Tinga and Charlie but their situation is different than ours. For one, Charlie's not manticore so even though Tinga may not have known the ins and outs of marriage at least Charlie did. But you and I, marriage's something we're just not accustomed to. How could we possible know the rules for something like that?"

Alec pondered her words for a few seconds before smiling. "What do you say we make up our own rules?" He then stood up quickly.

"What do you mean?" Max looked up at him surprised at his sudden surge of energy.

"How about I go food shopping and then cook you dinner instead of pizza?"

"Alec." Max said sternly.

"It'll be good, trust me." He then bent over and silenced her next protest with a quick but deep kiss.

He was already out of the room before she remembered why she wanted to stop him from leaving.

"Alec!" The front door banging shut was his only answer.

Max looked down at her children feeding. "Do you have any idea what your daddy is planning now?"

Jace smiled and Arun blinked which Max took for no's.

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Alec slowed his pace to keep from drawing attention to himself by blurring to his destination. As soon as his body slowed down, however, his mind began racing.

Max had been right. They really didn't know the ins and outs of marriage but Alec had enough sense to know that what they did know was good enough. But still it would be nice to refer to Max as something more significant that just his girlfriend. The mother of his children were far too many words. She was his mate and he was hers. For transgenics that was easy enough to understand but humans would probably look at him funny, if he called Max his mate rather than his wife. Marriage was a human institution but the idea of officially declaring their union wasn't a bad one. So why not? Of course it wouldn't be a real marriage since he was pretty sure there were documents and other formalities involved. But like he told her, they were going to make up their own rules. The ceremony was something he could handle for it was basically a party celebrating them. Who wouldn't want that? And he knew just the place to have it.

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"Rock star!"

"Hey Ray, how's it going?" Alec responded jovially to Normal's enthusiastic greeting.

"Not the same without you, my boy."

"Well you know I hated to leave, but—"

"Say no more." Normal held up his hands. "I knew I couldn't expect a specimen of your caliber to stick around this den of ineptitude for too long." Normal punched Alec in his shoulder good naturedly. "I'd hate to see their grime sully up my golden boy." Alec couldn't help smiling at the praise. "So what brings you here?"

"Well Normal I was wondering if I could borrow Jam Pony next Sunday."

"You want to borrow Jam Pony?"

"I'd only need it for that day and I'd be sure to hand back to you in the same condition I got it in."

"What do you need it for?"

"Nothing big, just my wedding."

"Wedding!" Normal exclaimed. "My, my, well where did you meet this lucky girl?"

"Uh…here, actually."

"I know her."

"Yep, Max Guevara."

"Ah yes." Normal said nodding his head and having no trouble remembering her. "Dark hair, very beautiful and with a chip on her shoulder the size of Texas."

Alec nodded. "That's my girl."

"She banged up quite a few lockers throwing the worthless hides of the bums who attempted to win her attention into them. But I can't say I'm surprised you won her over. She needs a good taming and you, my boy, are definitely the man for the job."

"Yeah well, we want to have a ceremony---"

"But the church is charging you too much." Normal interrupted.

"Ugh, yeah, the church is real expensive." Alec said slowly.

"I understand; say no more. You can have it here but on one condition." Alec swallowed nervously before asking.

"What's that?"

"I get to preside. I was ordained over the internet four years ago, but my sister's no good husband changed his mind the last minute and decided to have the wedding at his parent's church all the way out in Pasadena. I rehearsed for weeks---"

"Sure Normal, we'd love it if you preside at our wedding." Alec interrupted immensely relieved that that was Normal's only condition. He then looked at his watch. "I really should get going. Promised Max I'd cook dinner tonight for her. I'll call you in a couple of days with all the details."

"Looking forward to it. Hey maybe we can discuss it over dinner at my place."

"Sure thing." Alec said while backing towards the door. "I'll ask Max."

"Ugh yeah, she can come too."

"Later Ray." Alec said before sprinting out the door.

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"You suck." Kendra said as she zipped up the back of Max's dress.

"Why's that?"

"You just had twins and not only can you fit in this dress with room to spare but you also managed to look absolutely gorgeous."

Max smiled. "Thanks, girl."

"Alec's gonna love it."

"You think?"

"Totally. I'm so jealous." Kendra then stepped away from the mirror to let Max examine herself. She was in mid-twirl when she heard footsteps coming.

"Hm Hm." Original Cindy greeted when she walked into the attic. "Sugah, you so fine Original Cindy's thinkin 'bout getting on one knee and proposing to you her damn self."

Max giggled. "Sorry O.C., I'm already spoken for."

"Yes you are." Kendra agreed. "And you couldn't ask for a better man to do the speaking." The three women laughed.

"You ready girl?" The thought of her lover flashed through Max's head making her smile broaden.

"I'm always ready."

The day had arrived. Much to Max's mortification she let out quite the girlish squeal when Alec told her about having a ceremony at Jam Pony. But with her happy acceptance, they were able to move full steam ahead into planning out the first formal X5 union. All the dresses and tuxes had been "borrowed" from select stores around Seattle. They even had a marriage license. It had to be doctored up because Max and Alec didn't really exist. But it looked real enough to fool Normal and that was all that really mattered.

Max knew nothing about wedding ceremonies and was surprised to learn that Alec had actually been to a wedding as a part of one of his assignments back at Manticore. He hadn't been briefed on the ceremony itself, only his target, but he still remembered parts of the ceremony. He learned that most of the words the priest spoke came from a bible but when Max and Alec got a hold of one, they hadn't been too crazy about the passages. Kendra proposed they write their own vows and when that idea didn't thrill them either, Original Cindy suggested they look through poems and song lyrics to get ideas for vows.

Max and Alec spent an entire day, well the goal was an entire day but in between caring for the twins, the time they spent online looking up song lyrics and poems probably amounted to about three hours. Nevertheless they each found lyrics that suited them.

Alec liked the idea of exchanging rings and when he told Max she did also so they decided to do that too. With people pawning off their jewelry to buy the basic necessities in this post pulse world there were a lot of good things to be found on the streets at even better prices; so, it didn't take long to find rings they both liked.

Jam Pony had been transformed. It was completely unrecognizable as the dirty, cluttered place they formally worked at, or in Normal's opinion, loitered in. White sheets covered the lockers, the boxes behind Normal's desk and the dispatch desk itself. A huge collection of white Christmas lights had been donated by all their friends who had them. The lights then were strung along the walls, the ceiling and over the white sheet covered lockers. Flowers, branches, and the Christmas lights had also been entwined together and fastened around the dispatch desk creating a canopy. On the dispatch desk stood three candles, two small ones and one large all unlit.

Flower petals, both real and fake, covered the floor and down the steps where Max would make her entrance once the ceremony began. The benches were moved to in front of the dispatch desk where Max and Alec would stand. And any other chairs they could find were placed behind those so some of their guests would have seats. They didn't have enough chairs for everyone as it turned out that every single transgenic they freed had made it to Seattle for the ceremony in addition to their friends from Jam Pony. The place was packed.

Alec arrived and a momentary hush fell over their guests as they turned to stare at their handsome friend confidently walking towards the former dispatch desk. When he smiled and shook hands with Normal already standing behind the "canopy", the crowd resumed their excited murmuring knowing the festivities were going to begin shortly.

Sketchy had been put in charge of audio. The flat screen television in the corner had the loudest speakers so Sketchy hooked up a CD player to it. Alec and Max gave him a CD of the music they wanted and at exactly 3 P.M. he hit play.

As soon as the instrumental began, the guests ceased their conversation and turned towards the back where the staircase was.

The strands in your eyes that color them wonderful

Stop me and steal my breath.

Emeralds from mountains thrust towards the sky

Never revealing their depth.

Kendra came down first carrying a sleeping Arun. They were followed by Original Cindy carrying Jace. Kendra walked over to the canopy and stood next to Alec. Original Cindy walked over and stood in front of the canopy opposite of Kendra and Arun.

Tell me that we belong together

Dress it up with the trappings of love

I'll be captivated, I'll hang from your lips

Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above

When Max emerged, a series of oohs and ahs were heard from the crowd at the vision of grace and beauty she depicted. She was still out of his line of sight, but the moment Alec heard her footsteps on the steps he held his breath. He didn't know why he was so nervous and excited at the same time. He saw Max all the time, had known her for what seemed like forever but there was nothing he could do to discount the swelling of his heart at this moment.

When she made it to the last step and turned to him, his heart and time seemed to stop. She was gorgeous, the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on.

The whole walk down the steps Max could think of nothing else but how much she hated high heel shoes. Each step she took she feared brought her closer and closer to falling on her face. Her relief didn't surface when she finally made it to the last step because she was still dreading the walk to the canopy with all her friends and family watching. She knew if the fates wanted to mess with her that that would be the time she would fall. But when she looked up and saw Alec across the room waiting for her, her worries about her high heels dissolved. Because it turned out she didn't have to walk over there after all.

Instead she floated.

Before she knew it, she was standing next to Original Cindy and Jace staring up into Alec's mesmerizing eyes.

I'll be your cryin' shoulder

I'll be love suicide

I'll be better when I'm older

I'll be the greatest fan of your life

Normal waited for Sketchy to shut off the music. He then opened the notebook that held the introduction Max and Alec had wanted him to say. "You ready Rock star."

"You bet." Alec responded without turning away from Max.

"Then lets bip bip." Looking up at the crowd, Normal began. "Friends and family, we are gathered here to celebrate an acknowledgement. An acknowledgement of loyalty, of trust. An acknowledgement of family, of happiness. An acknowledgement of love. Max and Alec are here today to acknowledge to themselves and to each and every one of you this promise of forever. So friends and family, look with love as you listen and watch Max and Alec speak their vows and exchange their rings." Normal reached into his pocket and pulled out a lighter.

"Before we get to the vows, I'd like to call your attention to these three candles. This small candle stands for the people in Max's life that could not be here to share this special day." Max lit it with the lighter and then handed the lighter to Alec as Normal explained. "Alec will light his candle for the people in his life that could not be here to share this special day with him. They will then light this larger candle to symbolize the bigger and stronger flame their joining produces."

Max and Alec took their smaller candles and used it to light the big candle in the center.

"Alright missy, ladies first." Normal said to Max when the candle lighting was done.

"Okay. Ahem" Max cleared her throat nervously and then took a deep breath. Looking into Alec's eyes she read the title. "This is called Yours." She then blushed and rolled her eyes at the sudden cat calls and snickers from her friends. Pausing until a hush fell over the crowd she looked down at the paper in her hand. Her photographic memory ensured she knew the piece by heart but focusing on the small sheet of paper helped steady her nerves.

"Because I know how it feels to be part of you boy

Every day of my life's so abundant with joy

I honestly never thought love could be real

Until I met you and began to feel"

Max's hand dropped to her side as her eyes sought Alec's again and locked in place. Her need to tell him how much he meant to her shut out her surroundings until it was only her and Alec. Still staring into his hazel depths, her voice no longer shaky and unsure, she continued.

"Being with you is so natural

I never knew it was possible

It finally feels like my life has begun

Now that I can share it with someone"

She paused to take his ring out and then place it on the very tip of his finger.

"Anything you need, I'll be right here

I'll never betray your trust because I love you so much

There's nothing you can do to keep me from standing by your side"

Max pushed the ring all the way on before continuing. "I am now and forever will be yours. " Max finished. Both she and Alec's eyes were glistening with tears.

"That was beautiful, Maxie." Alec whispered leaning in.

"Hold it there mister." Normal interrupted. "We didn't get to that part yet." Everyone laughed including their friends that had been wiping their eyes after Max's vows. "It's your turn." Normal said.

"Oh right." Alec smiled sheepishly making the crowd giggle again. When they settled down, Alec took Max's smaller hands into his and smiled at her. "It's called I am Free." Max smiled up at him and he began. "Once I was a prisoner." Alec's deep, strong voice immediately had their guests' rapt attention.

"Lost inside myself with the world surrounding me

Wondering through the misery but now I am free

You gave me a breath of life, unclouded my eyes

With sweet serenity, lighting a ray of hope for me

And now I am free."

He let go of one of her hands and pulled out her ring. After sliding it on to the tip of her finger he began again.

"Free to live, free to laugh

Free to soar, free to shine

Free to give, free to fly"

He then pushed the ring all the way on to her slender finger.

"Free to love."

He brought her hand up to his and kissed it before saying softly. "And I do, Maxie. I love you so much. Thank you for freeing me."

They couldn't wait any longer. Alec pulled her to him and Max didn't hesitate to pull his head down to hers until their lips met in a searing kiss.

"Whoa whoa wait." Normal sputtered. "I…you…oh well hell," He shrugged. "You may keep kissing the bride." He announced causing the crowd to erupt into laughter and applause. "I now pronounce you partners for life." He yelled over the noise making their friends clap even louder.

Sketchy aimed the remote and pressed play causing the traditional wedding recessional song to blare throughout the room. Max and Alec reluctantly broke apart. Smiling happily, they took each others hands and walked, through a line of their friends congratulating them, towards the entrance of Jam Pony. Two lines of X8s stood on either side of the ramp leading out, blowing bubbles for the couple to walk through.

"Party at Crash. Drinks are on me." Alec yelled over his shoulder before fully exiting.

As a wedding present, a group of X6s that excelled in diagnostics and repair remodeled an old Cadillac convertible and the newly pimped out ride awaited the couple when they walked out of Jam Pony.

The two were gushing over the car when Kendra and O.C. walked out carrying Arun and Jace. Immediately Max and Alec rushed over to their twins to kiss and coo over them. They then put them in the car seats already set up in back. But when Max went to shut the door, Kendra surprised her by nudging her out of the way and reaching in to take out the car seat. Original Cindy was on the other side taking out Arun's.

"We goin take the babies with us, boos." O.C. explained off of Max and Alec's confused looks. "Just in case you want to take a little detour on your way to Crash."

Max looked at Alec with a smile and raised eyebrow. His eyes twinkled back at her. With the hectic wedding preparation right on the heels of becoming parents to twins, it felt like ages since the two had had a moment alone. It was the best wedding present they could have received.

More hugging and congratulations followed before finally Max was able to dive into the driver's seat. Then a few moments later, Alec leapt into the passenger seat.

"So where to?" She asked as she started the car and the pristine engine came to life.

Alec took her hand and laced it with his. He then kissed the rings now touching one another's on their joined hands. "How about forever." Max smiled and then kissed their rings too.

"Perfect."

And they drove away.

TBC

Please Review

AN: Way to go Jewel and Carebear! As you saw, you were absolutely right about Max's multiple births. Originally I had been thinking of Max having like three or four babies, a whole litter, if you will. But coming up with names for just the two was hard enough. 

Also I'd like to thank Original Proxy for her beautiful m/a story "Fighting Naturalists (If you haven't already, I highly recommend reading it. It's really great!)." I appreciated the story so much that I named one of Max and Alec's babies after your favorite "throw away" character. 

PS. I'm going on vacation and the next chapter isn't even outlined yet so it might be awhile before an update. I'll try my best though.

Max's processional—I'll be by Edwin McCain

Both Max and Alec's vows are slightly modified versions of two songs by Mariah Carey.