Alex leaned his forehead lightly against the bathroom door, a small smile tugging at his lips despite the tension in his chest. "Hey," he said in a calm voice. "Why don't you open the door and we can talk?"
There was a pause. Just enough for everyone in the room to go completely silent again. Then the lock clicked.
The door opened slowly.
Max stood there, one hand still resting against the edge of the door like she needed it for balance. Her usual sharp expression was gone, replaced with something quieter, almost distant. Her eyes flicked up to Alex, then away again, like she wasn't sure how to hold eye contact right now.
Alex stepped closer without hesitation and gently took hold of her arms, grounding her. His voice softened as he searched her face. "You're pregnant?"
Max looked up at him, her lips parting slightly before she gave a small nod.
For half a second, everything stilled.
Then Alex pulled her into a tight hug, one hand pressing firmly against her back like he was anchoring her in place. "That's great news," he said warmly, his voice full of certainty. He leaned back just enough to look at her again. "Why do you look sad?"
Max didn't answer right away.
Her fingers curled slightly against his shirt as her gaze dropped, her shoulders tensing under his hands. For a moment, it felt like she wasn't even in the room anymore.
Old memories hit her all at once.
A cluttered apartment filled with empty bottles and a mother who barely remembered her own daughter's name on bad days. Loud arguments and doors slamming, then the nights when she learned to take care of herself because no one else would.
Max swallowed hard.
"I don't…" she started, then stopped, her voice catching before she could finish. She shook her head slightly, trying to push it down, but it didn't go away. "I don't know how to do this, Alex. I don't think I'll be a good mother."
Her voice came out quieter than usual, stripped of all sarcasm and edge.
"I didn't exactly grow up with a guidebook," she added, forcing out a weak, humorless breath. "If anything, I got a full demonstration of what not to do."
Alex didn't let go of her.
Instead, his grip softened just enough to be reassuring, his thumbs brushing lightly against her arms as he held her attention. "You're not your parents," he said simply.
Max let out a small scoff, but it didn't carry its usual bite. "Yeah, that's what everyone says right before they screw things up anyway."
Alex shook his head once, steady and certain. "No. I'm saying it because I've seen you. You take care of people even when you pretend you don't care. You show up when it matters. You bring smiles to everyone's faces when they are down."
Max looked at him, her expression flickering slightly.
"I know who you are, Max," Alex continued, his voice calm but firm. "I know the real Max Black who hides behind all the sarcasm and jokes... and she is a very kind, lovely, and caring person with whom I fell in love."
Her throat tightened. But she still spoke, "What about hot and sexy?"
Alex kissed her before saying, "Hot, sexy, kind, lovely, and caring. And that's not someone who's going to be a bad mother," he finished quietly.
Max blinked at him, clearly not expecting the kiss to land right in the middle of her spiral. For a second, she just stared, then let out a shaky breath that almost turned into a laugh.
"Wow," she muttered, brushing her thumb under her eye quickly. "You really just shut down my existential crisis with a kiss. That's some rich guy problem-solving right there."
Alex's hand slid up to cup the side of her face, steady and warm. "You weren't spiraling alone," he said quietly. "You just forgot that part for a minute."
Max looked at him again, longer this time. Her shoulders dropped a little, tension easing just enough to breathe properly. "I didn't forget," she said, softer now. "I just… don't trust it yet."
"That's fine," Alex replied without missing a beat. "You don't have to trust everything right now. Just trust me a little. I'll carry the rest until you catch up."
Max huffed under her breath, though it lacked any real bite. "God, you're annoyingly stable today. Did someone swap you out with a motivational podcast?"
"Only for you," he said.
She rolled her eyes, but her hand stayed fisted lightly in his shirt. That alone said more than anything else.
Behind them, the silence in the room had stretched long enough.
Max's eyes slowly shifted past Alex's shoulder toward the hallway.
They were all there.
Scarlett leaned lightly against the wall, arms folded, but her expression soft and warm. Halle stood a little closer, one hand resting near her chest as if she had been holding her breath through the entire conversation. Evangeline stood beside her, looking teary, while Caroline stood right in front, eyes wide and already shining with excitement.
Max stared at them for a second.
Then she sniffed once, then rubbed her face on Alex's shirt, and cleared her throat like she was about to deliver a completely different kind of announcement.
"Well," she said, her voice regaining a bit of its usual dry edge, "I guess I'm going to get fat."
There was a split second of silence.
Then Caroline gasped so loudly it echoed down the hallway.
"Oh my God!"
She rushed forward without hesitation and threw her arms around Max carefully, like she suddenly remembered there was a baby involved. "You're pregnant. Max, you're actually pregnant. This is so exciting." She giggled, looking really excited.
Max stiffened for half a second out of pure instinct, then slowly relaxed into the hug. "Easy, Blondie. I'm pregnant, not made of glass."
Caroline pulled back just enough to grab her shoulders, her excitement completely unfiltered. "Do you realize what this means? We get to plan everything. Nursery themes, baby clothes, tiny shoes, oh my God, we need a list."
Max blinked at her. "I just found out ten seconds ago and you're already building a catalog."
"That's because someone here needs to be responsible," Caroline shot back without missing a beat. "And as your first bestie, it's my duty to make sure everything is perfect."
Behind her, Scarlett pushed off the wall and walked closer, a small smile on her face. "Congratulations, Max."
Max looked at her, a little unsure for a moment, then nodded once. "Yeah… thanks. Still processing the part where my life just flipped upside down."
Scarlett's tone stayed calm and reassuring. "You won't be doing it alone. We're all with you."
Evangeline stepped forward next, her expression gentle as she placed a hand on Max's arm. "This is a good thing, even if it feels overwhelming right now."
Max let out a quiet breath. "Yeah, that's the part my brain is still negotiating with."
Halle moved in last.
She didn't rush.
She just stepped close and wrapped Max in a soft, steady hug, one hand resting carefully on her back. "You're going to be okay," she said quietly.
Max's shoulders dropped again, the tension easing just a little more. "You sound very sure about that."
Halle smiled faintly as she pulled back. "Because I've been where you are. The fear is loud at first. It settles once you realize you're not facing it by yourself. Besides, once you become a mother and just look at the baby's face... it's just... At that moment, you'll know what to do."
Max glanced between all of them, then back at Alex for a second before shaking her head lightly. "This is a lot of emotional support for someone who just made fun of basic biology a few hours ago."
Caroline lifted a finger instantly. "To be fair, that was me, not you."
"Yeah, but I didn't exactly help the situation," Max replied.
Scarlett smirked slightly. "You made it more entertaining."
Evangeline added, "That's your brand."
Max exhaled, a real one this time, and leaned her weight slightly into Alex without even thinking about it. "Alright… so what now? Do I get a manual, or do I just wing it and hope the kid doesn't roast me later in life?"
Caroline lit up again. "You do not wing it. We are making a plan."
Max groaned quietly. "Of course we are."
...
[Later that night]
That night, the neon sign of Williamsburg Diner flickered lazily...
The place was technically closed, chairs half-stacked, lights dimmed to that familiar after-hours glow. But inside, nothing ever really stopped.
Earl sat in his usual spot by the counter, flipping through a newspaper like he had all the time in the world. Han stood behind the register, counting money with intense concentration like he was guarding a national treasure. Sophie sat in her spot, scrolling through her phone, while Oleg lounged nearby with his usual smug expression. Lews wiped down a table, humming to himself.
The bell above the door rang.
Everyone looked up.
Max walked in first, hands in her jacket pockets, trying to look casual and failing just enough for anyone who knew her to notice. Caroline followed close behind, practically vibrating with contained excitement. Alex came in last.
Earl lowered his paper slightly. "Well, well. The gang's back after hours. Either someone's in trouble or someone's pregnant."
Max stopped mid-step and pointed at him. "Okay, first of all, that was way too accurate and slightly terrifying."
Han blinked. "Wait… what?"
Caroline clapped her hands together. "Okay, nobody panic, but also everybody panic a little because we have news."
Sophie straightened instantly, eyes narrowing with interest. "Oh, I love news. Is it scandalous? Is it rich? Is it both?"
Oleg grinned. "If it involves Max, it is definitely both and probably illegal in at least three countries."
Max rolled her eyes. "Relax, Stretch Armstrong. Nobody needs your imagination right now."
Lews leaned forward, clearly intrigued. "Oh my God, this feels like a group announcement. Should I get wine or popcorn?"
Alex took a seat in an empty spot. "Maybe both."
Caroline grabbed Max's arm and pulled her forward like she was presenting a contestant on a game show. "Go on. Tell them."
Max looked around at all of them, then rubbed the back of her neck. "Alright… so… funny story."
Earl folded his paper completely now. "Those are usually not funny."
Max exhaled. "Yeah, well, this one comes with a long-term commitment and zero return policy."
Sophie gasped, one hand flying to her chest. "You are pregnant."
Silence hit the room for half a second.
Then chaos.
Han's mouth dropped open so wide it looked painful. "Pregnant? Max is pregnant? How does this happen?"
Max stared at him. "Han, if you need that explained, we have bigger problems."
Oleg shot up from his seat, grinning like Christmas had come early. "Ah, Max, my little cupcake, I always knew you had it in you. Literally. So tell me, was it a wild, passionate, animalistic night of..."
Max threw a napkin at his face. "Finish that sentence and I'm naming your kid after your worst feature."
Oleg caught the napkin and smirked. "Impossible. I have only the best features."
Sophie stood up, rushed forward and grabbed Max's hands, her eyes sparkling. "This is amazing. A baby. A tiny little Max. Or worse, a tiny little you mixed with Hollywood's Golden Boy over there."
She glanced at Alex and nodded approvingly. "Actually, that could be very expensive and very beautiful."
Caroline stepped in, unable to contain herself anymore. "We're going to plan everything. I already have ideas for the nursery, outfits, themes, color palettes—"
Max groaned. "She's been planning since before I peed on the stick."
Lews clasped his hands together. "I cannot believe this. Max Black, aka the Vixen of the modelling world, is having a baby. This is character development I did not see coming."
Earl nodded slowly. "Life's funny like that. One minute you're broke, next minute you're broke and responsible for another human."
Max pointed at him. "Hey, I'm not broke anymore."
Earl shrugged. "Emotionally, we'll see."
Han finally found his voice again, still in shock. "But… but Max… you… baby…"
Max squinted at him. "Han, if you short-circuit any harder, I'm unplugging you."
Alex stepped forward slightly, his presence calming the room just enough. "She's doing good. Just processing."
Sophie squeezed Max's hands again. "You will be amazing. You are tough, you are smart, and you already know what not to do since you've already done everything and yet somehow survived. That is half the job."
Max softened slightly at that, her usual guard dropping for just a moment. "Yeah… that's what everyone keeps telling me."
Oleg leaned in again, clearly not done. "So, when is the baby coming? I need to prepare appropriate gifts. Something educational… or maybe something with batteries."
Max raised an eyebrow. "If it vibrates, I'm gonna shove it up in your body where light doesn't shine."
Oleg placed a hand over his heart. "You wound me. I was thinking of an educational robot."
Lews laughed. "Sure you were. But I don't mind if you sometimes gift me something with batteries and personally shove it." He winked at OIeg.
Caroline suddenly gasped again. "Oh my God, we need to throw a baby shower."
Max groaned louder this time. "No. No games or weird questions and definitely no guessing the baby weight."
Caroline ignored her completely. "We are doing games."
Alex chuckled quietly under his breath, watching the chaos unfold.
Earl leaned back in his seat. "Kid's not even here yet and already got more drama than daytime television. God, I'm so glad to be alive to see my little girl grow up to be a mother."
Alex smiled as he said, "You're going to be a grandpa. So, you'd better take care of your health because you'll be in charge of teaching the kid around the ropes and you've got to play with the baby a lot."
"Oh, I ain't going nowhere anytime soon. I survived a couple of heart attacks and multiple divorces, a couple of crazy ex... so I'll live through this," Earl replied with a nod.
Max looked around at all of them, the noise, the teasing, the excitement. She shook her head slowly, a small, real smile finally breaking through.
"Yeah," she muttered. "This kid is gonna be completely screwed."
Alex rested a hand lightly on her back. "Or completely loved."
Max glanced at him, then back at everyone.
"…Yeah," she said again, softer this time. She then leaned in and whispered.
--
---[MORE POWERSTONES💎💎💎]---
Support link: www.patr eon.com/UnknownMaster
[4 advance chs] [All chs available for all tiers]
+ [Reborn in Castle: 21 chs] + [Modern Family: 3 chs]