Weathering the Storm

The day was finally over as Max and Deanna packed up the two small children, Henry and Michelle, from the office that they all shared in the basement of the old building. It had been a week and few days since Deanna’s worst day when all the truth had come out about her parent’s death, which had happened a few days prior to the news being blasted all over the television and radio. When it was announced that her oldest brother David, who was also her biological father, had not only killed his parents but also had caged and raped numerous of his cousins, the news went wild with the story.

Deanna had accepted the news of her birth and that of the two small children who were now in her care with Max as a fact even before the blood tests had come back. When they did, and she knew for a fact her mother was both her mother and grandmother, Her brother was both her brother and father. It was disgusting to think about, but somehow she had been spared from any of the complications that had been often thought of when dealing with children of incest. Henry was also easily marked as David’s child, and he also had been spared for most of the same problems. Michelle was only a few weeks old, and like Deanna was a first relation victim of incest as well. David had kept his sister Justine locked in the secret basement of their parent's house and had raped and then killed her. Michelle had a few of the copies of genes when they had run her DNA, but none had seemed degraded, so they were all hopeful that she would also be spared from most of the major problems.

Max had met in those few weeks with two different directors of the different police schools about adding his course to their school's course load. The idea was met with a huge approval, and they were all working together to finalize the deal. When it was Max was going to enjoy telling the university to shove it after their treatment of him and his ideas. Max was happy. He seemed like he was walking on a cloud all of the time. His students saw the change in him. The other professors also saw it.

“So you started banging your assistant?” one of them said at the beginning of one of the useless staff meetings. Max looked over and raised his eyebrow at the comment.

“My relationship with my girlfriend is none of your business,” Max said as he waited for the retort.

“Your girlfriend? Come on, Anderson, you know it is just a fling and probably some great sex. But it is a stretch to call her your girlfriend.” He replied as he turned to go back over the papers in front of him.

“Since we are getting married, have two kids, and it isn’t great sex, it is mind-blowing sex I would have to say it isn’t a fling, but you shouldn’t worry about it and just continue banging your students so they can get better grades, Samson,” Max said with a grin and then went back to his papers as well. He had made sure everyone around him could hear what he had said. He couldn’t wait to get back to his office to see Deanna and the kids. They seemed the one thing that would rein in his temper from the comments from the other men who flaunted their affairs with the students all the time, but he couldn’t have a real relationship with Deanna without nasty comments being said.

“Two kids? You mean her kids. I mean, we have all seen them. They are hers, and you are just taking them in.” Samson lashed out and said to his papers.

“They are mine.” Max ground out, “All three of them.”

“Just wait until something better shows itself to her. She will drop you in a heartbeat, and you can kiss those kids of yours goodbye.” Samson said with a smile.

“We will see,” Max said as he swallowed the rest of the statement and the motion of his fist slamming into the little man’s face.

An hour later, he walked into the office and was so angry that he wouldn’t be surprised if steam was coming out his ears. Deanna looked up and tilted her head to ask her question. “They started again, didn’t they?” She said softly as she hugged him as he came closer.

“You are just passing the time until something better comes along today,” Max said softly as he kissed her crown of hair.

“Well, that must be what they know. I sure that is how they see their affairs as something to pass the time.” Deanna said as he kissed his cheek.

“And you? Are you passing the time, my love?” Max asked as he looked into her eyes.

“Only until we go home, Max.” She smiled. “I got the call today. Justine’s service is on Friday.”

“Are you okay with that?” Max asked as he watched her closely as she picked up Michelle and changed her diaper quickly.

“Max, I will never be fully okay with what happened to my family though I have accepted it. We will go and honor my sister, and then we will shut that door to the past.” Deanna said as she smiled at the little girl. “In other news, Cheryl filed for divorce from David. Though I don’t think that will save her from anything. The lawsuit against him for the families will include her as well. Her kids have to forfeit any claim to the money from the estate. The way the lawyer did it was brilliant to save the estate and to encourage the victims to come forward and be able to get some compensation.”

“Well, if they think you are the one looking for a free ride when the truth comes out about your part of the estate every one will think I am with you for your money.” Max laughed. “Talk about a flip and a rather quick one.”

“The lawyer wants me to get a prenup when we get married,” Deanna said.

“Then get one,” Max said as he met her eyes. “I don’t want your money. I want to provide for all of us myself.”

“Max,” Deanna said. “I wasn’t going to ask for one. I was just saying he wants me to get one.”

“I still don’t want your money. I don’t want anything to do with your parents or their blood money. Your father knew what he was doing when he changed his will the last day he was alive. He was trying to buy you off with his death. I am really surprised that your siblings haven’t contested the last change, though. They have all showed their greed pretty well in the past few weeks.” Max said.

“They also feel guilty to a point. Father made it, so they still got a lot as well as mother's will. Whereas she favored David in hers. He was trying to right a wrong that was my birth.” Deanna said, “They knew I could ruin the entire family and the reputation of it even more if I outed the truth about my parentage or one of the kids. They wouldn’t like that, and one word from me could do it. That is why they won’t contest it.”

“Well, who knew when I chose my poor little student girlfriend in a month, she would be a millionaire,” Max said with a chuckle. “And my kids would have more money than I will probably ever make in my lifetime.”

“Max, have you thought about everything people would say if they knew?” Deanna asked.

“I honestly don’t give a rats ass what anyone else says. I mean, at the meeting, there was talk about how you are just a fling with some good sex attached.” Max replied as he looked at the schedule for the rest of the week. He wasn't looking up at her, so he didn’t see her shocked face.

“Are you serious?” Deanna asked as she looked at him.

“Yeah, So I told them the truth,” Max said with a smile. Deanna knew that smile.

“What truth is that, Max?” She asked as she had an idea as to how he would respond to anything negative said about her or one of the kids.

“That it isn’t a fling. We are getting married. We have two kids. Oh, and the sex wasn’t good. It is mind-blowing.” Max said as he looked up to met her eyes before she rolled them. “What I didn’t lie on any of that.”

“Max don’t encourage them.” She said as she finished getting the baby ready to leave. Henry was already bouncing on Max’s lap.

“Daddy home?” Henry asked as he stopped jumping for a minute.

“We are going home, buddy,” Max said as Henry started to clap with excitement. “Mommy has to finish getting the baby ready, so she doesn’t cry in the car.”

“Baby loud,” Henry said with a smile.

“Mommy’s is louder,” Max said with a chuckle. “Come on, buddy, let’s pack up your stuff to go home.”

Max helped the toddler pack up his toys in his backpack and along with his blanket. Max looked at Deanna and grinned. “Is my little princess ready?”

“She is,” Deanna said as she looked up to him as she put her in the car seat. He had both bags on his shoulder and henry in his arms already. He bent down to pick up the car seat. “Max, I can get her.”

“I know my empress, but I am your will servant always,” Max said as he pecked her lips.

“Max, you are up to something.” She said as she shook her head.

“Thinking of that mind-blowing sex we will have tonight.” Max chuckled. He knew that they had finally settled down from always finding themselves always ready to have sex. However, he savored her every chance he got. He was ready to tease her all night until she gave in. The joys of parenthood and dealing with her grief had taken priority over his sex drive now as she was settled into a routine. It was time to uproot her routine and surprise her again.