Title: Dream Within
Author: Restive Nature (aka Bavite)
Rated: NC-17
Disclaimer: All characters within this fiction are the property of Cameron/ Eglee. I just like to play with them.
Timeline: Six weeks after FN.
Pairing M/A
Summary: An unexpected accident causes Max to think about the future in a new way.
AN: I just realized that I made a mistake in one of the earlier chapters. The date of Max and Alec’s wedding should have been February 28th, 2022. I’ve gone back and fixed that so that the timeline gels.
Chapter Twenty-four
Let The Past Be The Past
March 28th, 2023
Max hurried along to the perimeter as quickly as she could. The ever-increasing need for sleep was screwing up her schedule. She glanced at the watch on her wrist, debating on whether or not to flat out run. She was sure she’d have a few minutes still. She turned the corner, the fence and gate coming into sight. She sighed with relief that only the guards were present. But she still picked up the pace a little.
Realizing that she needn’t think up excuses now, her mind returned to the conversation she’d had with Alec last night. Actually it was more like a series of conversations. After work was done for the day, if she even went in, they’d discuss the past. Or more specifically, her past. The seventeen month time gap that she still hadn’t recovered. There were days when she feared deeply that Dr. Carr was right after all. That she would never fully retrieve her memories. And then a flash would come along, prompting a vague memory.
Alec had finally given in a few weeks after their initial consultation with Carr. She’d been frustrated with her mind and raging hormones and had thrown one of his strewn about boots at his head. It had missed narrowly. Whether from her now accepted desire not to hurt him, or the anger marring her aim, she couldn’t decide. But he’d told her hesitantly, carefully, the things she was grasping for. And now it had become almost habit. She would have a flash of memory, then in the evening, in the privacy of their home Alec would fill her in on the barest details. Still always hoping that she’d remember more on her own. But she never did anymore. She never moved beyond a brief flash.
So that was how she’d come to learn of the details of Rianne’s death. The major fight that she and Alec had had after their marriage that prompted her to leave Terminal City and seek refuge with Cindy. Only to discover that she’d gone into heat the first time in forever while she was on the outside. Away from Alec. And how Alec, just as angry, had accepted a mission, taking him away from his irate wife. Rianne had come to her aide, to help Cindy help Max through her cycle, which had hit her hard. On the last day, Max had decided that she was safe enough to return to TC. The males knew well enough to leave mated females in heat well alone.
The only problem was that White had happened upon them by luck. And Max’s mind was slightly befuddled still and she hadn’t reacted quickly enough. The bullet that would have taken her in the shoulder went straight into Rianne’s chest as she protected her leader. Alec had told her that Rianne had continued to fight, giving Max the chance to flee. At least, that’s what he’d been told.
Those evenings were also how she discovered that the group of X6’s she’d sat with in the All Nighter had lost a member. The littlest of them in stature, if not age, Remy by name, had been on a mission when Manticore had blown. But she’d arrived at TC just a few days after the rest of her small unit. There’d been plenty of rejoicing by the kids when she’d appeared, her pixie like face lit up in a cool smirk. And it was because of that calm, collected manner, and mission status that Remy had already had, that Max and Alec had chosen her for one of the many recon missions TC inhabitants were pulling. Of course, with White’s interference, the mission had gone sideways.
What should have been a simple in and out to gather information had turned into an all out lesson in never letting your guard down. While Remy had been the only loss that day, she’d managed to warn the rest of the team, saving their unexpecting asses. Her loss was felt heavily all over their community for weeks on end. When Alec had told her about this, Max had been amazed that JK, Chas, Dizzy and Mort were as friendly to her as they were. She would have hated the person that had assigned her sister to go to her death. Alec had simply shrugged. In Manticore, they were used to people not coming back.
The conversations weren’t always bad. For instance, the evening that Max had finally convinced Alec that if he wanted a repeat performance or what he’d so ardently enjoyed her doing before, he’d have to tell her. She’d expected something along the lines of what he’d told her. How his taunting about her undercover skills had prompted her to prove herself by giving him the lap dance of his lifetime. Of course, once he’d gotten into that memory, details had inadvertently slipped out. Remembering their lovemaking that night, Max mused that maybe it had been a little more deliberate than she gave him credit for.
Those evenings also led to the discovery of what little celebration had resulted in her pregnancy. November fifteenth, 2021 had been the anniversary of the day the denizens of Terminal City had received the right to go into the courthouses of Seattle and receive their brand new, government approved Terminal City of Seattle residency cards. It had also been the day Alec had proposed. He’d wanted to make it legal, binding and acknowledged by more than just their own kind. According to Alec, Max had surprised him by saying yes. Because his approach hadn’t been at all conventional. Something along the lines of dragging her down to the short line of citizens waiting and filling out forms for marriage licenses. And getting into line himself.
Max came back to the present as one of the guards said hello. She responded in kind, then greeted the other. She glanced at her watch again, noting that Charlie must be running a little late. But a few minutes only as she saw the pair sauntering down the street. Case was running short spurts ahead of his father, eager for another school day to begin. Then he’d stop and wait for his amused father to catch up. Finally they made it to the gate.
"Hey Auntie Max," Case called excitedly as he handed his backpack to the guards. This was a now familiar daily routine to the boy. The guard gave the contents a cursory glance, then handed it back to the child as Charlie caught up.
"Hey big guy," Max smiled back. Case turned to his father and hugged him tightly around the middle.
"See you tonight Dad," the little boy enthused. Charlie hugged him back with his arms; his hands full of his own lunch box and tool kit for work.
"Have a good day son," Charlie chuckled. He glanced up at Max. "I’ll see you guys tonight."
"Seven o’clock as usual," Max quipped with a nod. She held out her hand for Case and the boy slipped his own into hers. They set off to the TC school while Charlie headed off to his job. Max was glad that the idea of Case attending their school had panned out. It was a joy to see her nephew every weekday and sometimes on weekends. As Case had definitely inherited Tinga’s immunity to the biotoxins, it made the occasional sleepover possible. And there was a big bonus that Alec enjoyed spending time with the Case and the kids that Case had made friends with.
Max barely had to ask Case what they were doing in school that day, before the little chatterbox was racing off. This time with words instead of feet. He told her about the fight that had broken out yesterday, between some older kids, again. About the science project they were starting today. His favorite subject of math. They continued to walk, with Max listening with pleasure.
Until the first little twinge in her stomach. She stumbled a little, surprise hitting her. Case came to a halt beside her as her other hand came up to cover the small mound where the baby protruded. His voice faltered as he stared up at her, concerned. Max waited and within seconds the feeling came again.
"Auntie Max?" his voice was quivering with worry. Max forced her face into a grin.
"Case, can you do me a favor?" she asked. He nodded his little face solemn. "Run over to headquarters and find Uncle Alec. Then bring him back here, okay?" Case nodded and ran to do her bidding. Max watched him for a moment. ‘He’s almost blurring.’ She thought with amusement. But her mind quickly turned back to the internal.
Her hand skimmed lightly over her abdomen, but there was nothing. "Come on baby," she whispered. "Do it again." She waited for several tense minutes. "Do it for Mommy." She was rewarded then with another gentle flutter, which made her laugh.
After noticing several people watching her from the buildings and across the street, she gave a jaunty wave and continued walking, this time towards HQ. She’d have to head Alec and Case off. But she’d barely taken ten steps when she saw them returning.
Alec’s face was a mask of concern. He didn’t seem to worry about Case keeping up with him. Although the kid was trying valiantly to. Alec reached Max, his hands reaching for her arms. "What is it? What’s wrong?" His eyes were jumping between scanning hers, and then looking for evidence that something had befallen her.
"It’s okay Alec," she assured him as his eyes snapped back up to hers. "We’re okay." Case finally caught up and she included him, smiling down at him. "Thank you Case."
"You’re okay Auntie Max?" he asked in a small voice. Max ruffled his hair.
"Sure am big guy," she nodded, then looked up again at her husband. "I just felt the baby move for the first time." The change in his features was indescribable. It was as if everything had softened. Alec let go of one of her arms and moved his hand down to her stomach. It trembled a little until Max pressed it firmly over the mound. She bit her lip a quick second before she reached out for Case as well. Alec grinned down at the kid, whose little face was screwed up in concentration.
The trio waited quietly until Case finally pulled his hand away. "That’s real nice," he said simply. Max laughed.
"The baby hasn’t moved yet sweetie," she explained to him. He frowned at her stomach. "Do you want to feel it?"
"No, that’s okay," he shrugged. Max didn’t worry over it. He’d never shown much interest in his coming cousin. She figured that it wouldn’t be real to him until she’d actually delivered the child. She turned her attention back to Alec, who was still patiently waiting. Then finally, "there! Did you feel that?"
Alec grimaced. "No," he muttered disgustedly. He kept his hand where it was though. Max sighed and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
"Sorry," she murmured. "Doc did say you might not be able until a few days after me."
"I know," Alec muttered impatiently, still pressing his fingers against her, waiting. The baby moved again, but by the lack of his reaction, he still hadn’t felt it.
"What did it feel like?" Case inquired. Max cocked her head as she regarded him.
"Like angel kisses," she finally decided.
"What are angel kisses?" Alec demanded.
"This," Max whispered as she leaned forward to brush her eyelashes over his cheek. Alec shivered slightly at the ticklish movement, then smiled and pressed a kiss against her lips.
"Can I have an angel kiss?" Case whined. Max pulled back from her husband and smiled down at him.
"Of course you can," she assured him. "You can have all the angel kisses you want."
"Do you think any of them are from Mommy?"
*****
March 30th, 2023
"Again Max?" Alec’s voice was slightly raspy, weary. Of course, it could be from the long hard day he’d put in at work. More likely it was from the fact that she’d pounced on him the moment he walked through the front door. But tonight, the same as the last few days, as soon as she’d seen Alec, her body would start to hum. In fact, she would have thought she’d developed some strange psychosis, had it not been for the book Original Cindy had thoughtfully provided her with. So when she’d read up on the chapter for her month of pregnancy and discovered that a revved up sexual drive was par for the course, she’d been greatly relieved.
Alec of course had promised early on to help in whatever way he could. At first it had been satisfying her hunger for food. Then leaving her be, so that she could sleep. Heading off inquisitive people who seemed to think that pregnant women were public property. She’d barely restrained him from punching an older ordinary man who’d touched her stomach without permission. So when she’d first shown signs of increased sexual appetite, he’d been willing to carry his fair share of the load.
But deep down, for all he might tease and complain on the surface, Max knew he loved this stage of her pregnancy. So she didn’t let the wariness in his voice worry her overmuch. "Yes again," she murmured as she pressed her lips to his. He responded to her kiss, pressing against her softly, his body molding against hers. Max let out a low moan as the hands that had been on her hips trailed up her sides, brushing against her sensitive breasts. "I want you, now," she breathed out.
Alec’s eyes darkened and he smirked at her. "You don’t have to tell me twice," he quipped as Max busied herself with peeling his coat off his arms. She threw it haphazardly to the side as Alec pulled the shirt over his head, while toeing off his shoes. Max, who’d been anticipating his return, had simply not dressed after her long bath. Instead she remained clad in her bathrobe. Her hands went eagerly to his belt as Alec let out a rueful chuckle.
"We’re doing it in the doorway now?" he scoffed at her, reminding her of were exactly in the apartment they were. But it was not the deterrent it would have once been. Without missing a beat, Max simply reached around him and pushed the door shut. Then, hooking a finger into his belt loop, she pulled him towards the bedroom, maneuvering him to where she wanted him. With what she was sure was a wicked little smile on her face.
"I’ll take you anywhere I can get you," she murmured back huskily. Alec didn’t bother to answer. His knees had met the bed by then and talking was not Max’s priority just then. He swiftly undid his belt buckle, leaving it hanging as Max popped the button open and pulled down the zipper. Her hand slid inside, cupping the hardened flesh she found there, causing Alec to groan. "Hmm," she teased. "Seems someone’s not so tired anymore."
"Not at all," he grunted, his eyes glittering. Max pulled her hand away to push the slacks and boxers down over his slim hips, stepping back to let him kick the material away. She hurriedly loosened the knot of her robe, eager to connect with him, skin against skin. Alec helped, as she pulled the robe apart, baring her flesh to his gaze. As much as she would have liked to hurry, the look in his eyes as he took in her more rounded form captivated her every time.
His hand reached out slowly, to draw a finger down her collarbone. She shivered slightly at the light contact, her every nerve fiber on end. She wanted him so badly, that it was like a hunger to be continually fed. An ache in her chest that only he could ease. Alec let his finger drift down, brushing again over her breast as she swayed towards him. She nuzzled into his neck, finding the pulse point, hammering beneath his skin. Max pressed her lips against the spot
Alec’s hands toyed with her nipples. She could feel the familiar tension coiling through her as his lips trailed over her temple, reaching where he could. And as much as she would have liked to draw this out, her need was just too urgent. She pushed him back, until he naturally sank down to the bed. Alec didn’t protest this as it put him on level with his new fascination. She let him take a moment to rub his hands over the mound where the baby rested. But this moment was for them and she wanted his attention back on her.
She nudged his shoulders and Alec took the hint, carefully sliding himself back. He reached out a hand to her and Max eagerly clambered onto the bed, her legs straddling his. Max leaned over him, her curls just barely brushing his face. Alec slid one hand over her thigh, as his other hand pushed her hair away from her eyes, locking gazes with her. Max bit her lip at the intensity present there. She, like always, quickly became the focus of all his attention. He pulled her down further and Max happily complied.
She pressed her body against his, raising up slightly to allow for certain portions of their anatomy. She caught his lips again, resting her hands on either side of his head. Alec’s hands slid along her flesh, tickling lightly as they made their way up her sides, moving to wrap around her back, the heat emanating from them echoing through her skin. Max wanted the intensity that possessed her to burn in him too. She rubbed herself over his shaft, grinning at his mild groan.
"God Maxie," he grunted as his hands held her hips still. "You’ve been thinking about this for a while," he teased. Max’s grin widened as she recalled a few of the fantastical thoughts that had passed through her mind earlier.
"All afternoon," she admitted. But the flashes of her mind, of all the erotically sweet things that Alec did to her, for her, combined with his physical presence was only serving to make her more eager. And demanding. "I want you in me."
"Now?" he asked in a low voice, even as he supported her thighs as she rose up. Max positioned herself over him and sank down slowly, guiding him into her with ease of practice.
"Oh yes," she murmured, reveling in the sensation of him filling her again. She looked at her husband from under hooded lids. The look on his face made her smile even more. The blissful serenity that prompted many of her loving declarations was there again. And she couldn’t help herself now either. "I love you Alec."
"I love you too Maxie," he murmured. He flexed his hips and Max sucked in a breath. He certainly knew how to get her attention. She rose up slowly, enjoying every inch of him and then sank down again. Alec helped her along, his strong body supporting hers as she moved above him. His hands roamed over her body, rubbing her breasts, alternating the pressure. Max leaned down, her hands resting on his shoulders as she nipped little kisses along his jawbone.
Alec continued to thrust his hips under hers, as she slid along him. It wasn’t long before both were caught up in their body’s rhythms. Max could feel the pressure building low in her abdomen, all of her muscles contracting. Alec slid his finger over her clit, stimulating her body just that little bit more, setting her off. She cried out his name as she felt her body exploding. She shuddered as her orgasm swept through her, touching off his. Alec arched underneath her; his eyes clenched shut as her body milked his.
Max collapsed on her husband, feeling boneless. But before she could give in to her body’s new demand of sleep, she felt him brush another kiss on her temple and carefully ease her off him and to his side. "Comfortable?" he asked softly of her. She nodded.
"Mmhmm," she mumbled. "Thank you."
"Anytime Maxie."
*****
April 2nd, 2023
Max yawned sleepily as she snuggled in closer to Alec. She was lying on her back; the only position allowed other than her sides. Which actually was more choice than she’d grudgingly admit. And sometimes, if she were lucky, which was fairly often, Alec would act as a pillow for her upper body, if she felt the need to indulge in weird sleeping positions. She was deep in thought, her hand absently tracing patterns over his, where it lay curved around her abdomen.
"Uh uh," Alec grunted sleepily. Max turned her head to see if he’d woken up, and what he could be saying no about. It wasn’t often that he talked in his sleep. And whenever he did, it was usually stilted, disjointed dream conversations that she didn’t always follow. But that wasn’t the case this time. He peered over at her, a mildly disgusted look marring his features.
"Uh uh what?" she asked quietly.
"I just fed you," Alec replied tiredly. "So you can’t be hungry again."
"I’m not hungry," Max answered honestly, puzzled. Perhaps he’d dreamt that she was hungry again. She was about to say so when he spoke again, glancing down at her stomach.
"Then why did your tummy rumble?" he demanded. She followed his gaze, a smile lighting up her features as realization hit her.
"That wasn’t me Alec," she chuckled. Alec rolled his eyes at her.
"Well, if it wasn’t you and it wasn’t me," he grunted, sleep still befuddling his mind, "then who… oh!" His eyes popped open completely as he stared at her in wonder. Max giggled again and glanced once more at her stomach. She removed her hand from his and wiggled around a little. "That was the baby," he announced unnecessarily. Then scooted down to her hip. "And you little bugger," he exclaimed, though his tone was amused, "did it while I was asleep and couldn’t tell what was going on."
"Alec, don’t call the baby bugger," Max chastised playfully. He barely spared her a glance, instead speaking to her stomach.
"Well, if Mommy would settle on a name, then I wouldn’t have to call you that, would I?" Alec joked; his hand still pressed carefully against the mound that was growing more each day.
"Well, it’s kind of hard to pick a name for two reasons," Max extrapolated, her tone mockingly harsh. "One," she held up one finger, "Daddy keeps shooting down all my ideas."
"Can’t help it Maxie," Alec teased, sparing her a brief glance. "All your names are really stupid."
"They are not!" she protested. "They’re just… unique."
"Strange."
"Exotic."
"Laughable."
"Shut up Dick."
"Okay, point taken," Alec laughed. "You occasionally, mind you, very rarely, come up with a good one."
Slightly mollified, Max continued with her original point. A second finger jumped up to join the first. "And second, it’s hard to pick a name when you don’t know the sex of your child."
"Not my fault baby," Alec shrugged, his fingers now moving in slow circles around her skin. "I wanted to know. You’re the one that kept up all that ‘I want to be surprised´ garbage."
"Well I do," she protested. She glanced down at her stomach, slightly irritable now. "Are you gonna move or not?"
"Are you talking to me or the baby?" Alec quipped, his eyes sparkling with merriment.
"Urgh! Either one of you," Max declared. "I just want to sleep. So move!"
"Hey now," Alec soothed her, his free hand reaching for hers. "Bugger will move as soon as he’s ready. Then I’ll feel it and we’ll all be happy."
"He huh?"
"Or she. I don’t mind, either way."
"And don’t call her Bugger."
"You said that already," Alec paused a moment, his concentration squarely on the baby. But there was still no discernable movement. He glanced back up at Max. "So give me a name then."
Max reclined fully, wanting to roll to her side, but not daring to upset Alec’s position while he waited on their child. "Mmm, Bettina?"
"Betty," he amended automatically. It was old hat for them. Max would throw something out and Alec would try to mould it into a recognizable and usable name. "Elizabeth." They both made faces and said together "Renfro!"
"So that one’s a no," Max sighed. "Ooh, Natashique?"
"Natalie."
Max grimaced. "Sketchy’s old girlfriend. No way. Jeanettra?"
"Jean. Why would that matter? And no, too plain."
"It just does. Deirhondra?"
Alec’s face lit up as a smirk crossed it. "Deirdre!" he claimed enthusiastically.
"No! If we’re not naming the baby after Sketch’s ex, then we’re certainly not naming one after one of yours."
"Ah Maxie," he soothed, then looked puzzled. "You kept track of their names?"
Max blushed slightly, realizing that she’d been caught out. Because Deirdre was certainly well before she and Alec had gotten together. Well before her accident in fact. "Well someone had to," she defended herself. "You certainly couldn’t keep them straight."
"All right," he chuckled. "So that means no Little Suki, or Marina or Kelly or Vanessa, or-!" he broke off as Max nudged him sharply with her knee. "Oh, you know I love only you Maxie."
"You better," she growled. She relaxed again and went back to the naming game. "Abediahn?"
"Where on earth do you come up with these? Abigail," Alec mused. "That has potential."
"Didn’t you know? I have a random name generator wired into my brain. Yeah, it’s not bad," Max agreed. Though she wouldn’t admit it aloud, this was actually kind of fun. Naming was such a big deal to her, but she just didn’t have the flair for it other people did. So she got to come up with the most outrageous thing she could think of and let Alec temper it. It worked well for them. "So we’ll put that on the girl list."
"Which is very short, since that’s the only one," Alec pointed out agreeably. "So, boy’s names?"
"Uh, Leland?" she asked, suppressing a small shudder. Alec wasn’t so lucky.
"Lyle? No."
"How about Preston?"
"Shazam!" he laughed out loud. "Sounds like a magician. Bret, maybe?"
"Too jocky," she muttered. "How about Jaden?"
"Jason," he amended. His eyebrows quirked up. "That’s a good one. I like it."
"Uh uh," Max decided. Something about the name just irked her. "Sounds too snobbish."
Alec stared at her incredulously. "Oh, like Leland, Preston and Jaden aren’t little preppy school nerds just waiting to be dunked in the toilet, locked in lockers and pantsed in front of the entire student body?" Max giggled at the mental image he presented.
"Rossell?" she tried again, still tittering under her breath.
"Russ. What the hell is that?" he grimaced. Max thought for a moment that he was referring to the baby, but it still hadn’t moved.
"Oh, it means red."
"We’re not naming our kid red. May as well go with something like… Walter!"
"No Walter!" Max half-shouted. Alec frowned at her so she hastened to explain. "Sorry, bad memories about my ex-roommate Kendra. And this very old, very dirty cop named Walter."
"Ohh," Alec nodded sagely, though his eyes were dancing. "Mr. Multiples." He chuckled at the nauseous look on her face. "Yeah, OC told me about that." He was quiet for a long while as Max lay drowsily, almost asleep again. But his low, hesitant voice woke her right up again. "I had a thought. You know, a while ago."
"What was that sweetie?" Max asked in a gentle voice. For some reason, he didn’t want to meet her eyes. She was intrigued despite her need for sleep.
Alec rested his head on her thigh, making himself comfortable before continuing. "I was thinking, that if it’s a boy, if you wanted to," he glanced up at her, seeming to gauge her reaction. "We could name him… Ben."
Max gulped, not having expected that. She gasped a little, trying to draw in air. This, this offer, it was so typically sweet. And at first Max wanted to say yes, that that was the perfect name for their child. But it wasn’t. And it wasn’t only the slight twinge she felt in her chest whenever she heard that name. It was the mix of apprehension and pain and yearning that she saw in Alec’s face. "Oh Alec, thank you." He flashed a small smile at her. "But I don’t… I don’t think-!"
"You don’t want Ben?" he asked, puzzled. Max inhaled deeply, trying to order her thoughts.
"I loved my brother so much," she began. "But I don’t want to name the baby after someone that I still feel so… I don’t ever want the baby to be looked at like someone we’re trying to make amends to. Do you know what I mean?"
"Perfectly," he nodded slightly. "I think I’d feel the same if the baby were named Rachel." They stared at each other for a long moment, before Alec finally sat up. "Well, I don’t think I’m going to get lucky tonight."
"No, I guess not," Max agreed. "Baby probably fell asleep."
"Probably," Alec sighed. He rearranged himself to lie beside her once more, this time the proper way. Though his hand still rested on her stomach. Max snuggled in close once again, her thoughts whirling, though she yearned for sleep. She really didn’t want to think too heavily on Ben and Rachel, as she felt she’d already cried enough hormonal tears these past few months. Thinking of those tragedies would just unleash a tidal wave.
But sleep wasn’t to be hers. And neither did it seem to be Alec’s. She could feel him shifting about, searching for a more comfortable position. She tried to turn her mind from thoughts of her brother, her husband’s twin. And finally she was successful. She had almost dozed off, when it suddenly came to her. "Jamie."
"James," Alec mumbled back sleepily. Then he lifted up his head. "Hey, that’s not bad. I like that one." Max nodded, a smile lighting up her face.
"James Alexander McDowell," she decided. Alec’s face softened as he pressed a kiss to her shoulder.
His eyes were suspiciously misty as he regarded her. Then he chuckled. "Ah, if only a girl’s name came so easily."
"Jaime," Max repeated.
"So you’re thinking boy?" he teased. She shook her head.
"No, you just change the spelling. J-A-M-I-E for a boy. J-A-I-M-E for a girl," she explained. Alec tilted his head to the side.
"That works too," he said slowly. "Jaime Marie?"
"That’s pretty," Max mumbled. "Kind of rolls off the tongue."
Alec glanced down at her abdomen. "So what do you think of that Jamie?" But there was still nothing. Max chuckled.
"Give it up Alec," she taunted. "Jamie just doesn’t like you."
Alec frowned at her. "Bugger!" Max couldn’t tell if he meant her or the baby. But it suddenly didn’t matter as her abdomen lurched beneath his hand. She exhaled sharply as she was caught by surprise by the strength of the internal blow. Alec reacted just like a little boy at Christmas, receiving the long awaited for favorite toy.
"Did you feel that?" he demanded, not realizing how absurd his question was. Max nodded benignly, even though he wasn’t looking at her. "I felt that."
"Yippee for you," Max grumbled. "Can I go to sleep now?"
Alec laughed joyously as he once again scooted down to her side. "Mommy’s just mad cause you like my name best… bugger." He was rewarded with another small kick.
"Alec!"
Chapter Twenty-five
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