Title: Steps of Uncertainty
Author: Xerianna
Disclaimer: I owe nothing to do with Dark Angel and only wish that i owned Zack :o)
Description: This is the Sequel to 'Unintentional date' and i know that its been a while in coming
but i didn't want to just write anything...although don't i always?
Max walked back into her bedroom to find Zack still sleeping peacefully. His calm expression brought
a happy one to her own face, she'd never seen him like this and for that one moment Max
decided that she could live there for all eternity
His eyes suddenly shot open as he sat up with a gasp. Max watched his chest heave up an down as his gaze
darted about the room in momentary confusion.
"Its all right Zack, you're safe" Max said softly as she climbed onto the bed beside him. He
looked at her for a moment before realisation and relief spread across his beautiful face. A
hand, his, slid over her bare legs before moving up to cup her face.
"How could I not feel safe when I look into those beautiful eyes of yours?" he asked but his
mouth quickly silenced any reply that Max might have.
"You realise what kind of mess this has put us in don't you Zack?" Max asked as they slowly
pulled apart.
"Right now, in this moment the only mess i'm thinking about is the ruffled bed sheets" Zack
smiled.
"Its lovely to hear you say that Zack but it isn't who you are and you know it. I just want to
to be clear on a few things before i let my heart get trampled on" Max explained her gaze
never wavering from his.
"Max i wish that i could promise you a happy ending, God knows you deserve that but i can't.
I don't want to make promises that i can't keep with you" Zack replied
"I don't expect a happy ending Zack, i just expect assurances that what i'm doing is the
right thing to do" Max said with a small smile.
"Does it feel right?" Zack asked
"You don't know how right it feels" Max answered in barely a whisper
"All my life you were the one bright thing, the light at the end of the dark, monster filled
tunnel. From the moment that I got you that red balloon i knew there could never be
anyone else, your my Maxie" Zack explained smiling brightly.
"This moment of weakness is really sweet but it doesn't answer my question. Where is this
heading Zack?" Max asked
"I...I don't know. You know that i can't stay and yet you won't leave with me either" Zack
answered.
"Sucks doesn't it?" Max asked with a sad chuckle
"Yeah it does" Zack nodded in agreement.
"I guess that parting now is better than further down the line when i might hate you for
leaving me" Max said
"You're right of course but i'll always be here for you" Zack stated
"I know and maybe that's why this doesn't hurt so much. We'll see each other from time to
time anyway." Max smiled
"You can bet on that" Zack said before lightly kissing her forehead.
By that afternoon he was gone and Max found herself watching the rain slide down the outside
of her apartment window.
"You should have gone with him" Original Cindy's voice said suddenly
"I can't leave, what will you and Logan do without me?" Max asked with a smile
"Miss you like crazy...but we'd survive. If the man makes my boo so happy then he deserves
you more" Original Cindy explained.
"Maybe its better this way, we're both happy and the future is ours to look out for" Max replied.
"True but happiness doesn't wait around honey, you should know that better than anyone" Original
Cindy said
"Are you trying to get rid of me?" Max asked jokingly
"Never boo, you were, are and always will be my girl" Original Cindy stated
"Stop it before i cry" Max chuckled as she moved to hug her friend
"Too late" Original Cindy said as she looked at Max's wet cheeks.
"When he comes back i'll consider leaving but not now, i'm not ready" Max said
"When you are just make sure that you tell me in person I don't want no 'Dear John' letter
sista" Original Cindy explained
"I wouldn't do that to you" Max replied.
Six months passed and Max was just coming home from work when she saw Tinga and Critt stood
by her front door.
"What the hell are you both doing here?" she asked them as she rushed to hug them both.
"We were passing through Seattle and just thought that we'd check on our Maxie. How
have you been?" Tinga asked
"Good, you guys?" Max replied
"Can't complain, Zack sends his love" Critt answered
"How is our fearless leader?" Max asked
"Missing his girl" Zack's voice suddenly answered and Max spun on her heel at the sound of
him.
"How come you're all in the city? I'm not really buying the whole 'just passing through'
story" Max grinned
"We've decided that we want to end our running once and for all. We're going to Wyoming
to take down Manticore" Tinga answered
"Are you serious? Just the four of us?" Max asked as she unlocked her apartment door and
pushed it open to see the other seven escapee's including Jace who had obviously delivered
her baby.
"No, the eleven of us" Critt answered as Max stood in shock.
"I wish that Brinn could be with us" Zack said
"Don't worry, after this she will be" Tinga smiled in return as she clasped his shoulder.
There they were, ten of the twelve successful escapee's from '09', Ben was obviously not
alive to join them and Brin had been returned to Manticore. They had Jace now though and
it was good to see her again.
"Do we have a plan?" Max asked
"Not yet but it won't take us long. How are you Max?" Jondy asked
You dyed your hair" Max pointed out to Jondy as she remembered the girl who was now a red
head had once been blonde.
"Like it? I thought that it might help keep my identity a secret" Jondy smiled
"Looks real good, so I guess we should get a plan together" Max suggested.
Pizza was ordered for the hungry group and after a shower, Max wen to her room to
change only to find Zack sat on her bed waiting.
"Was this your idea?" she asked him as she quickly pulled on some clothes
"Mostly but the others were given a choice to be in on this. If you're having second
thoughts just say" Zack answered
"Its not about having second thoughts Zack, taking down Manticore could mean us getting
captured or killed. Are you sure that we're ready for something this big?" Max asked him
"We were born ready Max, isn't it time to stop running? To maybe settle down like some of
the others? Don't you want that?" Zack replied
"Of course i'd like that but not everyone gets what they want do they? I just think that
we might be rushing into this thats all" Max answered
"You shouldn't worry, everything will be fine. I won't let them capture or hurt you" Zack insisted
"I can't believe that we're all together after so much time apart, its a little surreal
really" Max chuckled
"I know what you mean, maybe after this we'll be able to do it more often" Zack suggested
"That'd be nice but I still don't feel good about this plan to take out Manticore" Max explained.
"By this time next week you and I could be hanging together whenever we liked" Zack grinned
"As long as we're successful that is" Max said
"Always the doubter" Zack laughed
"Thats me, I guess that we should get back to the others" Max suggested
"In a minute, i just want us to take a moment together. I missed you, all these months
the memories of that night together made me feel alive again" Zack explained
"It also made you come up this crazy plan" Max smiled
"This is your fault then?" Zack asked
"Uh Uh don't even try to blame this on me Zack" Max answered before heading for the door.
"Did you ever once think about me?" Zack asked just before she could reach the door. Slowly
she turned back to face him.
"Would it make a difference if you knew?" Max asked in return
"A difference to whom or what? My feelings for you when we shared that time together six
months ago have never changed. I never had doubts about what i wanted, my life i've spent
protecting the group but now we have a chance to stop hiding. With Manticore gone, i can
live in one place, the same place as my heart" Zack answered
"Which would be?" Max asked trying to keep her tone flat
"With you Maxie, then you wouldn't have to leave your friends or work behind. Maybe
Normal will forgive me and offer me another job" Zack answered with a grin.
"Or he might just ban you from coming to Jam Pony all together" Max said as she pulled open
the door.
The rest of the group were talking happily together, exchanging life stories and experiences.
Max looked upon them fondly just as she felt Zack's arm slide about her waist as if
reassuring her that he was still there.
"Lets take this bitch down" She told him
"All right people" Lets plan Manticore's demise" Zack said loudly catching everyone's
attention. Cheers and whistles came back in response.
Author: Xerianna
Disclaimer: I owe nothing to do with Dark Angel and only wish that i owned Zack :o)
Description: This is the Sequel to 'Unintentional date' and i know that its been a while in coming
but i didn't want to just write anything...although don't i always?
Max walked back into her bedroom to find Zack still sleeping peacefully. His calm expression brought
a happy one to her own face, she'd never seen him like this and for that one moment Max
decided that she could live there for all eternity
His eyes suddenly shot open as he sat up with a gasp. Max watched his chest heave up an down as his gaze
darted about the room in momentary confusion.
"Its all right Zack, you're safe" Max said softly as she climbed onto the bed beside him. He
looked at her for a moment before realisation and relief spread across his beautiful face. A
hand, his, slid over her bare legs before moving up to cup her face.
"How could I not feel safe when I look into those beautiful eyes of yours?" he asked but his
mouth quickly silenced any reply that Max might have.
"You realise what kind of mess this has put us in don't you Zack?" Max asked as they slowly
pulled apart.
"Right now, in this moment the only mess i'm thinking about is the ruffled bed sheets" Zack
smiled.
"Its lovely to hear you say that Zack but it isn't who you are and you know it. I just want to
to be clear on a few things before i let my heart get trampled on" Max explained her gaze
never wavering from his.
"Max i wish that i could promise you a happy ending, God knows you deserve that but i can't.
I don't want to make promises that i can't keep with you" Zack replied
"I don't expect a happy ending Zack, i just expect assurances that what i'm doing is the
right thing to do" Max said with a small smile.
"Does it feel right?" Zack asked
"You don't know how right it feels" Max answered in barely a whisper
"All my life you were the one bright thing, the light at the end of the dark, monster filled
tunnel. From the moment that I got you that red balloon i knew there could never be
anyone else, your my Maxie" Zack explained smiling brightly.
"This moment of weakness is really sweet but it doesn't answer my question. Where is this
heading Zack?" Max asked
"I...I don't know. You know that i can't stay and yet you won't leave with me either" Zack
answered.
"Sucks doesn't it?" Max asked with a sad chuckle
"Yeah it does" Zack nodded in agreement.
"I guess that parting now is better than further down the line when i might hate you for
leaving me" Max said
"You're right of course but i'll always be here for you" Zack stated
"I know and maybe that's why this doesn't hurt so much. We'll see each other from time to
time anyway." Max smiled
"You can bet on that" Zack said before lightly kissing her forehead.
By that afternoon he was gone and Max found herself watching the rain slide down the outside
of her apartment window.
"You should have gone with him" Original Cindy's voice said suddenly
"I can't leave, what will you and Logan do without me?" Max asked with a smile
"Miss you like crazy...but we'd survive. If the man makes my boo so happy then he deserves
you more" Original Cindy explained.
"Maybe its better this way, we're both happy and the future is ours to look out for" Max replied.
"True but happiness doesn't wait around honey, you should know that better than anyone" Original
Cindy said
"Are you trying to get rid of me?" Max asked jokingly
"Never boo, you were, are and always will be my girl" Original Cindy stated
"Stop it before i cry" Max chuckled as she moved to hug her friend
"Too late" Original Cindy said as she looked at Max's wet cheeks.
"When he comes back i'll consider leaving but not now, i'm not ready" Max said
"When you are just make sure that you tell me in person I don't want no 'Dear John' letter
sista" Original Cindy explained
"I wouldn't do that to you" Max replied.
Six months passed and Max was just coming home from work when she saw Tinga and Critt stood
by her front door.
"What the hell are you both doing here?" she asked them as she rushed to hug them both.
"We were passing through Seattle and just thought that we'd check on our Maxie. How
have you been?" Tinga asked
"Good, you guys?" Max replied
"Can't complain, Zack sends his love" Critt answered
"How is our fearless leader?" Max asked
"Missing his girl" Zack's voice suddenly answered and Max spun on her heel at the sound of
him.
"How come you're all in the city? I'm not really buying the whole 'just passing through'
story" Max grinned
"We've decided that we want to end our running once and for all. We're going to Wyoming
to take down Manticore" Tinga answered
"Are you serious? Just the four of us?" Max asked as she unlocked her apartment door and
pushed it open to see the other seven escapee's including Jace who had obviously delivered
her baby.
"No, the eleven of us" Critt answered as Max stood in shock.
"I wish that Brinn could be with us" Zack said
"Don't worry, after this she will be" Tinga smiled in return as she clasped his shoulder.
There they were, ten of the twelve successful escapee's from '09', Ben was obviously not
alive to join them and Brin had been returned to Manticore. They had Jace now though and
it was good to see her again.
"Do we have a plan?" Max asked
"Not yet but it won't take us long. How are you Max?" Jondy asked
You dyed your hair" Max pointed out to Jondy as she remembered the girl who was now a red
head had once been blonde.
"Like it? I thought that it might help keep my identity a secret" Jondy smiled
"Looks real good, so I guess we should get a plan together" Max suggested.
Pizza was ordered for the hungry group and after a shower, Max wen to her room to
change only to find Zack sat on her bed waiting.
"Was this your idea?" she asked him as she quickly pulled on some clothes
"Mostly but the others were given a choice to be in on this. If you're having second
thoughts just say" Zack answered
"Its not about having second thoughts Zack, taking down Manticore could mean us getting
captured or killed. Are you sure that we're ready for something this big?" Max asked him
"We were born ready Max, isn't it time to stop running? To maybe settle down like some of
the others? Don't you want that?" Zack replied
"Of course i'd like that but not everyone gets what they want do they? I just think that
we might be rushing into this thats all" Max answered
"You shouldn't worry, everything will be fine. I won't let them capture or hurt you" Zack insisted
"I can't believe that we're all together after so much time apart, its a little surreal
really" Max chuckled
"I know what you mean, maybe after this we'll be able to do it more often" Zack suggested
"That'd be nice but I still don't feel good about this plan to take out Manticore" Max explained.
"By this time next week you and I could be hanging together whenever we liked" Zack grinned
"As long as we're successful that is" Max said
"Always the doubter" Zack laughed
"Thats me, I guess that we should get back to the others" Max suggested
"In a minute, i just want us to take a moment together. I missed you, all these months
the memories of that night together made me feel alive again" Zack explained
"It also made you come up this crazy plan" Max smiled
"This is your fault then?" Zack asked
"Uh Uh don't even try to blame this on me Zack" Max answered before heading for the door.
"Did you ever once think about me?" Zack asked just before she could reach the door. Slowly
she turned back to face him.
"Would it make a difference if you knew?" Max asked in return
"A difference to whom or what? My feelings for you when we shared that time together six
months ago have never changed. I never had doubts about what i wanted, my life i've spent
protecting the group but now we have a chance to stop hiding. With Manticore gone, i can
live in one place, the same place as my heart" Zack answered
"Which would be?" Max asked trying to keep her tone flat
"With you Maxie, then you wouldn't have to leave your friends or work behind. Maybe
Normal will forgive me and offer me another job" Zack answered with a grin.
"Or he might just ban you from coming to Jam Pony all together" Max said as she pulled open
the door.
The rest of the group were talking happily together, exchanging life stories and experiences.
Max looked upon them fondly just as she felt Zack's arm slide about her waist as if
reassuring her that he was still there.
"Lets take this bitch down" She told him
"All right people" Lets plan Manticore's demise" Zack said loudly catching everyone's
attention. Cheers and whistles came back in response.