A/N: I decided to rewrite it. I shortened it to three chapters. Hopefully, you'll like it.

Spoilers: This is 6 months after the Jam Pony hostage situation. The X-6's (Ralph, Bullet, Fixitt, Zero, and X-8 Bugler) came back to TC shortly after the Jam Pony incident.

Disclaimer: I wish.

Chapter 1

Alec

Alec's POV

When did I fall in love with Max? That is a damn good question. I mean I have my guesses, but I don't know for sure. All I know is that I do.

It just hit me on my way to Crash. I don't know why it did. I almost walked right past Crash, too wrapped up in my memories.

I remember when I got assigned to Max. Then she was just 452 to me. I had recently gotten out of Psy-Ops. Apparently it reminded me of my first few stays because I really resented being stuck with an '09er. I tried to think positive in that all of the '09ers were good looking by Manticore's standards even, but it wasn't helping. Then I walked in the door and saw her. God, she was so beautiful. She was exotic for a Manticore creation. She made the girls in my unit look like tabbies, cute and somewhat deceptive, while she was a panther, dark and mysterious. She reminded me of Rachel because of her eyes. Her eyes were not that of a soldier or even of a norm, she had expressive eyes that were at first filled with confusion. Later, they held anger. I expected a docile, broken soldier, instead I found a sassy, vibrant person. I went in comfortable where I was. I came out thirsty for freedom. That was just when I met her.

Maybe I fell for her the second time I came for a visit. When I arrived, she was missing. Deciding on seeing what she was up to before alerting the "chain of command" (guards are so not command types), I waited for her. When she came back, she named me. It was like I saw the sun for the first time ever. Like there was a person inside of me that was waiting to come out. It was a mistake to name me Alec, I'll admit it. From that day on, I did everything to live up to my name.

It might have been when she risked her life to give the rest of us what she had, freedom. She went back to a facility filled with people that were brainwashed to hate her and gave them the best gift (or thing) they had ever or would ever receive. Not mentioning Renfro wanted Max more than she wanted to live.

It could've been when she got herself caught to save those X-6's. She knew that she would get caught, but she did it anyway. She sacrificed herself. Little did I know, she is a true martyr.

If it was any of those this one is the clincher, the one thing that had me stuck on her for good. I was all ready to kill Joshua, but he didn't have a barcode. I resigned myself to killing Max, but I made the mistake of looking into her eyes. They were so sad-looking and filled with disappointment. I couldn't do it. I would have rather died than kill her. Then she chose my life over her relationship with Logan. I thought for sure she would let me die, but I'll admit part of me hoped that her martyr-like side would win and she would save me. When she told me to leave, I told myself that I would come back and make it up to her somehow. That is why I helped out on all those E.O. missions.

I suppose I shouldn't have because all it did was make me fall for her harder. I think the only real reason that I didn't leave Seattle after she saved me was that I was already too whipped to leave her.

The first time that it occurred to me that I was falling for her was when I realized that the best lap dance I ever had was her "fitting in" by running her hands though my hair and across my chest.

After she told me about Ben we got closer. I could talk to her. I could explain to her about Rachel. Then there was the whole lie thing with Logan. That was bad. She told Logan and we were the best of friends, but we just kept getting closer.

I was shocked out of my reverie by O.C. coming up and saying, "Have you heard?"

"Heard what?" What now?

"About ma boo leaving town to spread the transgenic word?"

"What?" I really hoped that this was a sick joke.

"She wants to go help them. Said she was feelin' restless and was gonna go and fight the good fight while spreadin' the word of TC."

"But…she can't just…she's the leader for God's sake!" After we decided to take a stand they voted and came to the decision that we should be have a committee lead the transgenic cause. We elected representatives for each department and then held elections for the leader of it all. Max won, of course, but she appointed me as her 2IC to the approval of the population.

"Yeah, but she said she had complete faith in you to continue wha' you boos have been doin'."

This shocked me. She has faith in me. When did that happen?

"Personally, I think that is a load of bullshit."

"What? Why?"

"Because she just recently shut Logan down on the relationship front. I think she is confused about her life right now."

"When does she leave?"

"In about an hour from Terminal City."

"How did you-"

"I can read you guys like a book. I know you pretty well and I have years of experience cracking Max. Plus anybody with eyes can tell you two are over the moon for each other."

Is it that obvious? "Thanks. I'll see you later."

"No problem. Try ta keep ma boo from leavin'."

"I will." And with that I was out the door, on my bike, and on my way to Terminal City in a matter of seconds. I hoped I wasn't too late. I was about to stop Max from leaving even if it meant telling her my secret.

TBC

A/N2: Review. Come on, you know you wanna. : )