Chapter 381: Moneybags Down Under

Alex looked at the six-foot buck staring them down from the shade. "Do me a favor and don’t try to fight him. My money’s on the kangaroo, and I’d hate to have to bail you out of an Australian zoo."

A sanctuary keeper named Ruth introduced herself and explained how to approach the calmer animals. She distributed small portions of approved feed before guiding them toward a kangaroo that seemed entirely comfortable around visitors.

Max approached cautiously, holding her palm open.

When the animal lowered its head and started eating, Max’s tough exterior completely vanished.

"Oh, you’re ridiculous," she murmured, grinning like a kid. "Alex, look at this little freeloader. He’s actually eating right out of my hand. And he didn’t even try to bite my fingers off like the pigeons in Bushwick."

Alex pulled out his phone and took a photograph.

Evangeline parked the stroller beside Alex and secured the brakes, leaving the twins comfortably seated. Alex remained nearby, keeping an eye on Diana and Aiden as he took a few more pictures.

For once, Max was so completely absorbed in something that she didn’t notice.

Evangeline joined her a few minutes later, laughing when another kangaroo hopped over and sniffed her empty palms with obvious disappointment. "Sorry, darling, I’ve already given mine away," she told the animal. "Try the brunette next to me. She’s currently running a one-woman soup kitchen for your entire family."

"Don’t kill my vibe, Evie," Max said without looking up. "I’m bonding with nature. It’s weird and furry and I’m having a moment."

Trixie, meanwhile, had begun interrogating Ruth about kangaroo anatomy, jumping distances, and whether their powerful legs would make them good superheroes. Chloe stood beside her, occasionally supplying a question of her own, holding Asher in her arms, who was fascinated by the animals’ movements.

"Alex, look!" Trixie called out, practically vibrating with excitement. "Ruth said the big ones can jump thirty feet in one go! That’s all the way from the front door to the kitchen island!"

"That’s impressive," Alex admitted. "Just promise me you won’t try to clear the living room sofa when we get back."

"Do you think Asher could bounce one off his..."

Chloe immediately rested a hand on her daughter’s shoulder, giving it a pointed squeeze. "Inside voice, Monkey. Remember rule number one about family business in public."

Trixie slapped a hand over her mouth, dropping into an exaggerated spy whisper. "Right. Sorry, Mom. Cover blown."

When Ruth led them toward the next enclosure, Evangeline returned to the stroller and began pushing the twins along the path. Max walked beside her, occasionally leaning down to check on Diana and Aiden, while Alex followed with the bags. Evangeline parked the stroller near the shaded viewing area before joining Max again.

Farther along the enclosure, Ruth showed them a female kangaroo resting in the shade.

A small joey poked its head out of her pouch.

Max practically melted.

"Okay, you’ve got to be kidding me," she whispered. "She’s got a built-in flesh hoodie for her kid. Do you know how much money we wasted on strollers when evolution already peaked right here?"

Evangeline crouched beside her with an amused smile. "And here I thought your favorite invention was making Alex carry all the baby gear."

"Please, that took months of breaking him in. He’s high-maintenance, Evie, I earned that pack mule."

Alex looked down at the two diaper bags hanging from his shoulders, the folded blanket under one arm, and the water bottle Trixie had handed him fifteen minutes earlier.

"And here I thought you kept me around for my sparkling personality."

Max threw a wicked grin over her shoulder. "Don’t sell yourself short, Sugar Daddy. You’re also picking up the tab for lunch."

He shook his head. Chloe laughed behind him.

The twins were enjoying the outing in their own way. Diana had fallen asleep in her stroller, apparently unimpressed by Australian wildlife. Aiden watched everything with enormous curiosity.

Max spent several minutes observing the joey before returning to the stroller. She brushed a knuckle gently across Diana’s cheek, the usual edge in her voice melting away.

"Can you believe these two are almost eight months old?" she asked quietly.

Alex crouched beside her. "It feels like yesterday when we brought them home."

"Yeah, and now Aiden’s trying to eat everything he touches, and Diana’s already mastered judging people." Max smiled toward her sleeping daughter. "Wonder where she learned that."

"Must be a recessive gene on my side."

"Sure it is, Moneybags."

After Max finished fussing over the twins, Evangeline took hold of the stroller again and pushed it farther along the path. They stopped beside Chloe and Trixie near another enclosure, where Evangeline secured the wheels before reaching for her camera.

Beside the enclosure, Chloe finally let Asher down, and he immediately became fascinated by the way the kangaroos moved

This revelation immediately required investigation.

Alex placed the diaper bags beside the stroller, tucked the folded blanket into its storage basket, and slipped Trixie’s water bottle into a cup holder. With his hands finally free, he turned his attention toward the nearby wallabies.

Asher bent his knees, made a delighted noise, and attempted to imitate a nearby wallaby. His first effort produced something closer to an enthusiastic stumble, and Alex caught him before his forehead could meet the ground.

"Easy there, buddy," Alex said, lifting him into his arms. "You’ve got plenty of time to learn how to jump."

Asher pointed toward the wallaby and squealed happily.

Evangeline raised her camera, framing the two of them against the enclosure. "Don’t move. Halle’s going to lose her mind over this shot."

Alex smiled while Asher waved both hands excitedly at the animal.

He also watched those little fingers carefully. Ever since Asher had discovered his Barrier ability, he’d occasionally activated it whenever something annoyed him. A glowing blue energy shield appearing in front of several tourists would be difficult to explain.

Fortunately, Asher remained too interested in the wallaby to demonstrate anything supernatural.

Once Evangeline finished taking pictures, Alex handed Asher back to Chloe, who settled him comfortably against her hip. Alex retrieved the diaper bags as Evangeline put her camera in her bag and resumed pushing the twins’ stroller, while Max walked alongside her toward the sanctuary’s gift shop.

..[30 minutes later]..

As they made their way out of the walk-through enclosure, a curious kangaroo approached Alex and started sniffing one of the diaper bags hanging from his shoulder. Before he could move away, the animal caught a loose strap between its teeth and gave it a surprisingly strong tug. Alex stopped and carefully worked the strap free as Max burst into laughter beside him.

"Real funny, Max," he muttered, checking the strap for damage.

"I’m sorry, Moneybags, but you just got mugged by a kangaroo!" Max managed between laughs, pulling out her phone to take another picture.

By the time they left the sanctuary, Trixie had acquired a stuffed kangaroo wearing a tiny ranger hat, and Max had purchased matching toys for Diana and Aiden.

She’d also taken enough photographs to fill an entire album.

Their rented coastal house welcomed them back that evening with the sound of distant waves and a warm breeze drifting through the open terrace doors.

Chloe helped Trixie unpack her souvenirs. Evangeline settled Asher down for a nap. Alex changed Aiden, returned three missed calls using one of his clones back in New York, and finally escaped onto the terrace.

Max was standing near the railing with Diana sleeping against her chest.

"You wanna hear something weird?" she asked as he stepped out beside her. "I always figured if I ever made it to Australia, I’d be thirty-five, scamming my way into some skeevy youth hostel, and living off fifty-cent ramen."

Alex slid an arm around her waist. "Say the word and I’ll go find some bedbugs and a broken ceiling fan to make it authentic."

"Heartbroken, really," she deadpanned, leaning her weight into his side. "Instead I’m stuck in a beachfront mansion with two babies, twelve suitcases, and a billionaire who got mugged by a mid-sized marsupial."

"He ambushed me and I was holding the diaper bags. That was a coordinated hit, and you laughed instead of calling for backup."

Max let out a quiet laugh, careful not to jostle Diana. She looked down at the top of their daughter’s head, her smile turning genuine.

"Still, this turned out pretty damn good."

Alex held her a little closer and looked toward the darkening ocean.

Somewhere beneath Sydney, nine trusted researchers were beginning work on something that might eventually change the world. His two clones were managing Titan’s affairs back home, and the other research teams had begun their own preparations.

There would be difficult decisions ahead, along with enemies he hadn’t yet identified.

For tonight, though, Max had finally seen her kangaroos; their children were safe, and the woman beside him looked happier than she had in weeks.

Alex kissed her temple and pulled her a fraction closer. "Next trip, we’ll cross another spot off your bucket list."

Max considered that for a moment. "Deal. But I’m picking the city, and you’re not allowed to build any creepy underground lairs within fifty miles of our hotel."

Alex smiled toward the ocean.

He wasn’t entirely certain he could promise that.