Meet The Maxwells

Chapter XXVIII

A Hard Day's Night
~ * * * ~

Madra emerged from the dressing room to find Max sitting in bed reading. She approached him, sat on the edge of the bed and said, "Max, darling, I need to speak with you."

Max immediately put down the paper and looked up at her, "Of course, dear," he said as he took her hand in his.

Madra tried to sound as casual as possible as she asked, "Max, how do you know Vanessa?"

Max let out a little chuckle and said, "Is that what's bothering you? Well, I assure you darling that I rather talk about that little number you're wearing - you certainly look wonderful in it!"

"Max, be serious," she said, "how do you know her, and why does she keep calling you Peter?"

"Madra, dear, you have nothing to worry about," he began, "Vanessa and I were childhood friends, that's all. The only person who ever called me Peter was my mother, and I guess Vanessa thought I liked being called by my given name."

Madra looked down and with a low voice asked, "But, did you date her?"

Max pulled her into his arms then saying, "Why darling, I think you're jealous!"

"I am not jealous!" she replied in a haughty air, "I'm just curious!"

"Ok," he said, "Vanessa's family and mine were very close. We saw each other frequently. I think both she and her mother just assumed that Vanessa and I would one day become a couple, but that was never to be, darling. I didn't feel about her that way..."

"But," Madra began hesitantly, "you did go out with her?"

"Why, Madra dear, I do believe you are jealous!" he said, as he began tickling her.

They were both laughing and giggling then. Madra tried to catch her breath, "Max....Max....stop....stop."

Max did stop, he looked at her with all seriousness and said, "Madra, believe me when I say that you are the only woman I have ever loved, and will ever love! You are my life, my reason for living! It's you I was thinking about when I lay in that hospital room after my heart attack - only you!"

"Oh, Max," she said tears brimming in her eyes, "I love you so much, I couldn't bear it if you....." she couldn't finish the sentence.

"Darling," Max began, "you knew I had a life before you, but I assure you that I never loved Vanessa. She and I were never in love. I never dreamed that I would find a woman I would love - until you! You saved me from a lifetime of lonliness!" He looked at her and tears were flowing down her cheeks. He could see the unasked questions in her eyes.

Max pulled her into his arms and held her tight. "Shhhh, darling...." he whispered in her ear, "you have absolutely nothing to worry about. I love you, darling." He began kissing her neck and he could feel her relax in his arms. "I love you," he whispered over and over.

"Oh, Max," she murmured, "I love you so very much....." His kisses became more passionate and she ran her fingers though his hair. "Oh, Max, I love you."

Through kisses he murmured his undying love to her. "Madra, I love only you. Now," he said teasingly, "let me see that little outfit you're wearing!"

Later that evening, Max fell asleep with his arm protectively around the woman he adored, the only one he had ever loved, happy and sated.

Madra lay awake, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep, those old feelings of self-doubt and fear creeping back in.

~ * * * ~

Jax and Gene arrived home to a quiet house. This was not the homecoming either he or Gene had expected. They had expected to come home and relate their exciting news of the baby. Jax was still grappling with the idea of being a father, but he kept that to himself.

They went to their suite and freshened up a bit. Then they went downstairs to await Rebecca's arrival. Vanessa had called and said that she would be home within the hour.

When Rebecca arrived at home, Jax immediately went up and gave his mother a hug. Rebecca was so happy to see them, she only wished it was under better circumstances. "Oh, darlings," she began, "I am so sorry if this ruined your honeymoon - that was never my intention......"

"Don't be silly, Mother," Jax began, "it was time we came home anyway. We have some happy news for you. Gene and I are going to have a baby."

Rebecca tried to muster some excitement. "Oh, that's so wonderful! I'm thrilled for both of you!" she said, but there were tears in her eyes. Jax felt so bad for her. He put his arms on her shoulders and said, "Mother, don't you worry, we'll prove you had nothing to do with this."

Rebecca then went to Gene and gave her a hug. "Oh darling," she said, "what wonderful news! A tiny life for us to love."

Gene was at a loss for words. Tears were welled in her eyes and Rebecca could see that she was in a lot of pain. All this information to take in and such a short time to assimilate it in, Rebecca thought. "It's alright, dear," she said, "everything will be alright." Then Rebecca sat down and began relating the entire story to Jax and Gene. She told them how Olivia had arrived the day after their wedding with Simon. She told them the following events and how Olivia never intended to return home with Simon, but that she had demanded money from Rebecca and threatened to allow another family to adopt him. She told them that Olivia confessed that both she and Jax were quite inebriated the night they met, and that it had been a one-night stand. Jax sat there quietly, hanging his head in dispair. Gene reached out and touched his hand.

"Of course," Rebecca said, "we also have some good news for you, however! Last night, Leila and Mike were married - right here in our living room!"

Jax looked perplexed, "Leila got married? And, who is Mike?" That seemed to ease the tension in the room and Rebecca explained about Leila and Mike's whirlwind courtship culminating in the wedding last night.

"Still," Jax began, "that seems a little sudden. Why the rush, Mother? They could have at least waited until we got home. Is there something you're not saying?"

"No, dear," Rebecca said, "there is nothing else. However, it has been a very long night and I am quite exhausted. If you don't mind, I think I will go upstairs and lay down for a while." She turned and began to leave the room and then turned around and said, "Oh, by the way, I did not murder that girl."

It had been a very long jouney and an even longer day. Jax and Gene went upstairs and relaxed on the setee in their suite. Niether of them could sleep, what with the jet lag and all the information they had to take in. They sat in each other's arms and their honeymoon seemed so far away.

"Was it so long ago," Jax began, "that we were so carefree and happy in Italy? Wasn't it only yesterday?"

Gene didn't reply. She was bone tired. Her back hurt, her feet were swollen, and she had a nagging headache.

Jax looked at her and asked, "Are you feeling alright, baby? I know this has been a rough day for you?"

She made a weak reply, "I'm fine, Jax, just a little tired.

"Come on," he said, "I'm getting you into bed."

Just then there was a knock at the door. A woman entered, introduced herself as the nanny, and said that Mrs. Jamison thought he might want to meet his son. With that, she entered the room and placed Simon in his father's arms.

"Wait......" Jax began to reply, but the nanny was gone. He stood there holding his son uncomfortably in his arms. He had never taken care of a baby before. Just then Simon let out a little giggle and a great big smile. Jax heart melted at the sight of it. He smiled back and held the boy a little closer.

"Look, Gene," he said, "I think he likes me! Why, I even think he looks a little like me. Look, Gene, what do you think?"

Gene was looking. She saw an adorable little boy who looked exactly like his father. She knew there could be no denying that this was Jax' son ~ Jax' first-born son. This was son she was supposed to be giving him.....

She tried to respond, but only managed to get out a little squeeking sound.

Jax turned to look at her, "Gene.....Gene!"

She tried to focus, but it was getting harder and harder to do. What is happening to me, she thought. I can't even speak....she tried to call out to Jax, but her head began to swim and the room grew dark.....

Jax watched in horror as her eyes rolled back in her head and she passed out.

To be continued.......

	Madra emerged from the dressing room to find Max sitting in bed reading. She approached him, sat on the edge of the bed and said, "Max, darling, I need to speak with you." Max immediately put down the paper and looked up at her, "Of course, dear," he said as he took her hand in his. Madra tried to sound as casual as possible as she asked, "Max, how do you know Vanessa?" Max let out a little chuckle and said, "Is that what's bothering you? Well, I assure you darling that I rather talk about that little number you're wearing - you certainly look wonderful in it!" "Max, be serious," she said, "how do you know her, and why does she keep calling you Peter?" "Madra, dear, you have nothing to worry about," he began, "Vanessa and I were childhood friends, that's all. The only person who ever called me Peter was my mother, and I guess Vanessa thought I liked being called by my given name." Madra looked down and with a low voice asked, "But, did you date her?"
Max pulled her into his arms then saying, "Why darling, I think you're jealous!" "I am not jealous!" she replied in a haughty air, "I'm just curious!" "Ok," he said, "Vanessa's family and mine were very close. We saw each other frequently. I think both she and her mother just assumed that Vanessa and I would one day become a couple, but that was never to be, darling. I didn't feel about her that way..." "But," Madra began hesitantly, "you did go out with her?" "Why, Madra dear, I do believe you are jealous!" he said, as he began tickling her.
	They were both laughing and giggling then. Madra tried to catch her breath, "Max....Max....stop....stop." Max did stop, he looked at her with all seriousness and said, "Madra, believe me when I say that you are the only woman I have ever loved, and will ever love! You are my life, my reason for living! It's you I was thinking about when I lay in that hospital room after my heart attack - only you!" "Oh, Max," she said tears brimming in her eyes, "I love you so much, I couldn't bear it if you....." she couldn't finish the sentence. "Darling," Max began, "you knew I had a life before you, but I assure you that I never loved Vanessa. She and I were never in love. I never dreamed that I would find a woman I would love - until you! You saved me from a lifetime of lonliness!" He looked at her and tears were flowing down her cheeks. He could see the unasked questions in her eyes.
Max pulled her into his arms and held her tight. "Shhhh, darling...." he whispered in her ear, "you have absolutely nothing to worry about. I love you, darling." He began kissing her neck and he could feel her relax in his arms. "I love you," he whispered over and over. "Oh, Max," she murmured, "I love you so very much....." His kisses became more passionate and she ran her fingers though his hair. "Oh, Max, I love you." Through kisses he murmured his undying love to her. "Madra, I love only you. Now," he said teasingly, "let me see that little outfit you're wearing!"
	Later that evening, Max fell asleep with his arm protectively around the woman he adored, the only one he had ever loved, happy and sated. Madra lay awake, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep, those old feelings of self-doubt and fear creeping back in.

	Jax and Gene arrived home to a quiet house. This was not the homecoming either he or Gene had expected. They had expected to come home and relate their exciting news of the baby. Jax was still grappling with the idea of being a father, but he kept that to himself. They went to their suite and freshened up a bit. Then they went downstairs to await Rebecca's arrival. Vanessa had called and said that she would be home within the hour. When Rebecca arrived at home, Jax immediately went up and gave his mother a hug. Rebecca was so happy to see them, she only wished it was under better circumstances. "Oh, darlings," she began, "I am so sorry if this ruined your honeymoon - that was never my intention......" "Don't be silly, Mother," Jax began, "it was time we came home anyway. We have some happy news for you. Gene and I are going to have a baby." Rebecca tried to muster some excitement. "Oh, that's so wonderful! I'm thrilled for both of you!" she said, but there were tears in her eyes. Jax felt so bad for her. He put his arms on her shoulders and said, "Mother, don't you worry, we'll prove you had nothing to do with this."
Rebecca then went to Gene and gave her a hug. "Oh darling," she said, "what wonderful news! A tiny life for us to love." Gene was at a loss for words. Tears were welled in her eyes and Rebecca could see that she was in a lot of pain. All this information to take in and such a short time to assimilate it in, Rebecca thought. "It's alright, dear," she said, "everything will be alright." Then Rebecca sat down and began relating the entire story to Jax and Gene. She told them how Olivia had arrived the day after their wedding with Simon. She told them the following events and how Olivia never intended to return home with Simon, but that she had demanded money from Rebecca and threatened to allow another family to adopt him. She told them that Olivia confessed that both she and Jax were quite inebriated the night they met, and that it had been a one-night stand. Jax sat there quietly, hanging his head in dispair. Gene reached out and touched his hand. "Of course," Rebecca said, "we also have some good news for you, however! Last night, Leila and Mike were married - right here in our living room!" Jax looked perplexed, "Leila got married? And, who is Mike?" That seemed to ease the tension in the room and Rebecca explained about Leila and Mike's whirlwind courtship culminating in the wedding last night. "Still," Jax began, "that seems a little sudden. Why the rush, Mother? They could have at least waited until we got home. Is there something you're not saying?" "No, dear," Rebecca said, "there is nothing else. However, it has been a very long night and I am quite exhausted. If you don't mind, I think I will go upstairs and lay down for a while." She turned and began to leave the room and then turned around and said, "Oh, by the way, I did not murder that girl."
	It had been a very long jouney and an even longer day. Jax and Gene went upstairs and relaxed on the setee in their suite. Niether of them could sleep, what with the jet lag and all the information they had to take in. They sat in each other's arms and their honeymoon seemed so far away. "Was it so long ago," Jax began, "that we were so carefree and happy in Italy? Wasn't it only yesterday?" Gene didn't reply. She was bone tired. Her back hurt, her feet were swollen, and she had a nagging headache. Jax looked at her and asked, "Are you feeling alright, baby? I know this has been a rough day for you?" She made a weak reply, "I'm fine, Jax, just a little tired. "Come on," he said, "I'm getting you into bed."
Just then there was a knock at the door. A woman entered, introduced herself as the nanny, and said that Mrs. Jamison thought he might want to meet his son. With that, she entered the room and placed Simon in his father's arms. "Wait......" Jax began to reply, but the nanny was gone. He stood there holding his son uncomfortably in his arms. He had never taken care of a baby before. Just then Simon let out a little giggle and a great big smile. Jax heart melted at the sight of it. He smiled back and held the boy a little closer. "Look, Gene," he said, "I think he likes me! Why, I even think he looks a little like me. Look, Gene, what do you think?" Gene was looking. She saw an adorable little boy who looked exactly like his father. She knew there could be no denying that this was Jax' son ~ Jax' first-born son. This was son she was supposed to be giving him..... She tried to respond, but only managed to get out a little squeeking sound.
	Jax turned to look at her, "Gene.....Gene!" She tried to focus, but it was getting harder and harder to do. What is happening to me, she thought. I can't even speak....she tried to call out to Jax, but her head began to swim and the room grew dark..... Jax watched in horror as her eyes rolled back in her head and she passed out.