A week after the shooting, a funeral was held.

20 minutes after Chloe Price's Funeral:

"Hey Max, how are…you doing?" Warren Graham, feeling constricted in his starched suit, reached out a consoling hand to press it against Maxine Caulfield's bare arm. He brushed his fingers lightly against her cold skin and then pulled back, settling his hands back in his pockets. A half-reassuring smile dons his face, but his eyebrows betray his emotions, cocking upwards in discomfort. He's not one to attend funerals. In fact, the concept of death (actual death, not some character in a TV show) was rather foreign to him, and he wasn't sure how to approach those who were grieving. But… it was Max, a close friend, and he would be damned if he wasn't there to at least comfort her.

"Not great, Warren." Max tugged at her short dress, preparing her self to leave the cemetery. There were still people milling about, some engaged in quiet conversation. For a funeral, the air seemed rather light, instead of the heavy atmosphere one might expect. It was a fine Autumn afternoon, one unperturbed by neither wind nor rain.

Joyce and David were talking with the priest, Joyce's eyes red and puffy, bleary with a constant stream of angry and mournful tears. She seemed to have stopped crying for now as David held her shoulders and rubbed her back soothingly. In this timeline, David and Chloe hadn't reconciled like Max felt they always could have. But the pain in David's eyes said otherwise, he loved Chloe like only a father could love a daughter.

Max could see some other schoolmates in the distance. Some had taken their leave while others remained. She spotted Victoria in the distance and they locked eyes. Max couldn't read her expression, but she wondered if it would be one of solemnity or hostility. After all, she had lost Nathan in the shooting, a close friend. She had every right to mourn his arrest but not Chloe's death. Yet why was she here?

Max turned to give Kate Marsh a farewell hug as she took her leave, no words exchanged except a tearful smile. Kate needn't say anything to express her emotions towards her friend, they both now sharing a painful existence. In this timeline, Kate wasn't as tormented and as a result, wasn't pushed to suicide. But Max knew she had to keep an eye on her as there was no guarantee she wouldn't spiral out in a similar fashion.

Warren stood there, rubbing the back of his neck for lack of anything to say. He decided on a catch-all phrase that seemed most appropriate when someone was grieving. He felt foolish to say it again, as he had been saying it every day for the past week.

"Max, I am so sorry…"

"Nothing to be sorry for," Max offered a lop-sided smile, one devoid of any real comfort or joy. She strained her eyes, struggling to appear composed.

Warren clasped and un-clasped his hands, rocking from foot to foot. He rubbed his neck again, wanting badly to say whatever it was that would brighten her eyes again. But he knew it was no use at this point. Max would need more time to mourn.

Max watched him shuffle, feeling a small sense of normalcy at seeing Warren behave in such a way instead of how she last saw him in their recent apocalyptic hell. A dreary setting framed by a catastrophic storm, a dark and cold diner surrounded by death, a nightmare of lockers and taunts.

Though there is nothing normal about being present at a funeral, he appeared the same old goofy Warren, unburdened by uncertainty and fear. In this timeline, Max didn't talk to Warren for days after Chloe's death, and so hadn't seen him in a while, at least by his perspective. She didn't talk to much of anyone during that time period. Counselors attempted to reach out to her, as well as Principal Wells, but she had rejected any sort of consolation. At least that was what "Max" did as the alteration of the past morphed into the immediate future.

But what was there to say anyway? They had no idea what she had to sacrifice in order to save them all. The thoughts like these that permeated her conscious mind left her feeling ill, the guilt pooled in her stomach like bubbling acid. She couldn't have possibly left everyone behind after personally dooming them with her rewind powers. The choice was hers. She had to sacrifice Chloe. Max felt like she personally killed her, and killed a part of her self in the process.

Warren and Max turned to look back at the retreating procession.

"You know… even though I didn't know her, she seemed like the coolest badass in school. I wish I could've met her." Warren followed her gaze.

Max thought of what she wanted to say, the corner of her mouth lifted up. In Chloe and Warren's minimal interactions of the previous timeline, she could recall Chloe's awe at Warren's brazen attack on Nathan.

"I'm sure she would've liked you."

"A-ha, you think so?" Warren straightened his tie, more than delighted to see Max offer him a smile. It was as if he hadn't seen one in weeks.

Max turned on her heel and made her way back towards the grave to say goodbye to Joyce. David still had an arm around her and Max couldn't see her face. But seeing her collapsed shoulders was enough to put a deep frown back on Max's face. Both a husband and a daughter in the span of five years? It was more tragic than one should ever have to bear. But Max knew David would be good to her to help her through this tough time.

"Max?" Warren asked as she took off in the opposite direction. He watched her approach the grieving couple and place a hand on Joyce's back. They immediately embraced, holding tight to one another as if they were each the last incarnation of their dearly departed friend and daughter. David pulled her into a one-armed hug. Warren couldn't hear what was being said, but the sight was enough to pain him.

He pushed his hands into his pockets and turned to go home, not wanting to further disturb the group.

Max watched him go.

"Why don't you catch up with your friend, Max? David and I- we're going to stay a little longer."

"I'll stay with you," Max offered, wanting to be with Joyce in her obvious time of need. She wasn't the only one who lost a friend; Joyce lost a daughter.

Joyce said nothing but nodded instead, looking at the flowers that adorned Chloe's freshly made grave. Max followed her line of sight and once more saw the bright blue butterfly. It flapped its wings rhythmically and Max couldn't stop the brief smile that grew on her face.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Joyce said in a whisper.

Max nodded. To her, that butterfly was a representation of Chloe. In some sense, in one moment of comfort that she offered herself, Max was sure that was Chloe giving her a sign. She hoped that Chloe remembered their time together, wherever she was, and that the butterfly's presence was a sign saying: "I do and always will." And even if it wasn't Chloe, it was Rachel Amber, come to say her own farewell. Either thought gave Max a moment of calm. This butterfly was free, away from the pain and suffering of a burdened life. Chloe was free too.

The butterfly took flight, making its way in the direction of Blackwell's dormitories. Max could only interpret it as a sign to head on home.

Max gave her final condolences and hugs. Joyce offering her a place at her home whenever she needed and a hot meal at the Two Whales whenever she wanted. David thanked Max, the harsh stare she remembered completely evaporated into one of gratitude.

Max took her leave, the setting sun disappearing beyond the horizon.

….

Two hours after Chloe Price's funeral:

There was a soft knock at Max's room, waking her from a light slumber. Her dress was discarded on the ground in a folded mess, the room cast in a dark glow from the lights outside. She approached the door, pushing a box of photographs out of the way. Chloe's face smiled brightly on a stray picture.

"Max, it's me. Would you like some company? There's someone here to see you."

'Kate…' Max was relieved to hear such a comforting voice, but anxiety filled her at the thought of a surprise guest. She didn't want to be seen right now by anyone that couldn't possibly understand the torment that she currently felt.

"He was waiting outside this whole time! I had to sneak him in."

Max pulled open the door, revealing a sheepish Warren and Kate Marsh at his side.

"I never thanked you both for coming today," Max said as she ushered them in.

"Of course, Max! I wouldn't miss it. You know I'd do anything to try and support you in the way you support me."

"At this point, I'm sure you've done more for me than I have done for you."

"Don't be silly, I don't know where I would be without you." Kate looked off to the side, recalling negative memories. Her face twisted and she quickly moved to sit on the nearby couch.

Warren had yet to say a thing. He was drinking in the image of Max's room's sorry state. Her room was messy, the remains of torn photographs strewn on the floor.

"Warren…"

Warren's head popped up at her voice. Max reached out and lightly touched his hand.

"Thank you for coming today. I'm sorry you missed your opportunity to go to the drive-in. We'll catch the next one, won't we?"

Warren watched her curiously, for a moment forgetting where he was. His eyes narrowed in confusion. "How did you know about the drive-in?" he whispered, "but- no, no, I wouldn't be a very good friend if I wasn't there today."

Max closed her eyes and smiled. She forgot that in this timeline Warren didn't even get an opportunity to ask her to "go ape!"

"Oh, I just heard… from someone." Max didn't bother to lie properly. Even she was a bit disappointed not to go. An opportunity like that was the normal life that she now longed for and one that seemed so far away. She felt like she let him down in more ways than one.

This past week, the one that no one experienced except her and Chloe was long gone. But she still felt its lingering memories clawing at her mind. All the adventures with Chloe, the conversations, the peril, the tears, and joy… she felt her best friend ripped away from her in such a cruel way all over again. And now there was no one in which she could burden that grief with her. It was a punishment, she supposed, for using such a forbidden power. But she would never regret the extra time she got to spend with her best friend.

But looking at Kate and Warren now, unaware of the hell that they both previously witnessed, she wasn't sure whether to be sad or happy. She worried that Kate could spiral out at any moment, and now she couldn't use her power to save her. She hoped, that if the time were to come again, that her words could be enough again to save her.

Warren was a bit of a different story. This forgotten week was a ride for him in a different way. Beating up Nathan and getting beat up, witnessing the end of his world, and his unwavering support of whatever she needed to do. She recalled the silly drawing he drew of instructions on how to make a bomb, as well as when his experiment blew up in his face. Max briefly wondered if he was able to figure it out this time without her help. She was sure Brooke must've stepped in at one point. She was the friend that he deserved.

And there was that time in the diner, the tornado raging outside, "for luck," she had said as she leaned in close... But all of that seemed like a foggy dream now, too distant to even feel real. Besides all that, Warren was a pillar she could rely on, a sense of normalcy in a world of insanity. For that she was grateful.

She moved to sit back on her bed, patting the area next to her. Warren made to sit and the group sat comfortably in silence, the way that friends do when the only thing left to offer is company. Kate got out a drawing pad and began to sketch.

"Kate, I'm really happy to see you drawing again," began Max.

Kate looked down in modesty. "I'm happy to be drawing again. I thought I'd never pick up a pencil again!" Kate's eyes became dreamy, lost in the memories of the cruel teasing she endured just days ago. She continued normally, "I'm working on a story for a children's book now… and I know I can count on you to be my expert photographer, yes?"

Max smiled, recalling a similar conversation she had with Kate in the hospital, this time under different circumstances.

"Of course, it'll be our single shot to stardom."

"And Warren, you'll help too, won't you?" Kate asked to bring him into the conversation. She must've sensed he felt a bit off.

He craned his neck to look at Kate, rubbing the back of his head, "well I don't know how exactly a nerd like me could help… unless you need help calculating the slope of the pages or something, then I'm your man."

"I bet Kate could use your expert explosion art skills," Max commented.

"Oh, Warren, I didn't know you could draw! I always saw you as the brilliant science type."

"Explosions?" He mused, looking at Max and then turning back to Kate. "Believe me, if you saw my drawings, you would question my brilliance and then run the other way," Warren grinned.

Max covered her mouth with her hand. She slipped up a second time. Warren didn't help her explode a door in this timeline.

Not sensing Max's unease, Kate began to gather her things, moving to place a reassuring hand on Max's shoulder. "I'm sorry I can't stay longer, I promised Alyssa I'd help her with her project. But I can cancel if you'd like? I want to stay as long as you need."

"You've done more than enough, Kate. Alyssa needs you more than me. I'll see you soon for our tea session."

"I better! Oh, and before I forget—" Kate tore out the drawing she had been working on and handed it to Max. "Just a little drawing, maybe you'd like it." Kate smiled and waved to Warren before exiting the room.

Max looked at the drawing. It pictured her and Warren sitting together on her bed in Kate's customary cartoony style. The cartoon Warren was looking fondly at a smiling cartoon Max. The various squares of Polaroid pictures dotted the background.

"I hope she captured my good side," Warren joked, looking as if he had been caught in an embarrassing pose. He leaned forward on his arms, avoiding his companion's gaze.

Max had to remind her self not to make any more mistakes regarding the memories in this reality. The old ones still seemed all too real to her. It was easy to forget what did and didn't actually happen.

"Nothing compares to the real thing." Max paused, looking at her friend. "…Thanks again, Warren. For… everything." Max held the drawing in her hand, once more recalling the lengths in which Warren went for her. She hoped she would be able to help him in return at least a fraction of what he did.

Warren looked at her in mild surprise before turning away again. "… I feel like I didn't do anything worthy of a 'thank you' like that."

"Trust me. You did. And more." Max wished she could tell him everything at that moment. Just to let it all tumble out in a flood of secrets. She was planning on telling him before, when it all started, that fateful day in the parking lot. She trusted him to the highest degree then, but she wondered if he could still listen with an open mind. Plus, what would be the point of sharing long-lost memories?

Warren looked puzzled but smiled sadly and leaned back to peer at the drawing. "Whatever you need, Maximillion, I'll be there to help."

"I know," Max smiled.

'I know, Warren.'

"Of course you do, you're Super-Max."

A trigger went off in Max's head. Another sharp memory shooting to the surface. How many more of these parallels would she be inclined to witness? The old memories were going to be replaced with new ones. It was up to her to make sure she didn't make the same mistakes. With no rewind power, Max couldn't afford to take the same chances. She had to make sure she covered all her bases as cleanly and normally as anyone would.

Max grabbed Warren's hand and held it tightly against the bed. "I want to help you too, Warren. Whenever you need. Call me if you ever need a mad scientist partner to assist you on any wild experiments."

Warren offered a grateful smile. "Before long, it'll be me coming to your aid, Dr. Caulfield, an expert in her field! And ah, just curious but what did you mean by explosion drawings? You're not talking about that one time—"

Max waved off her mistake with a flick of her free hand. "Nothing, nothing, just a joke. Though I can count on you as my demolition expert, can't I?"

"How'd you find out about my secret passion?"

"It's a gift."

"Among many…" Warren glanced down at their still connected hands and looked quickly back at Max. She looked a little worse for wear but none too different than how she always looked. Her hair fell softly, framing her thin face, freckles dotting her nose and cheeks. Though behind the surface he could still see it, that sadness that drifted in between blinks. And the smile she wore was filled with an unheard longing.

He wished he could say something, anything that would relieve the burden he knew that was toiling inside her. He felt like such an outsider, never even knowing about the close friendship between her and Chloe. He suddenly felt that he ought to leave her to her own peace, and that he didn't belong in this aspect of her life with no real right to try and understand her pain.

"I should probably… take off soon. Don't want to bother you too long." Their clasped hands broke apart as Warren stood.

Max's momentary surprise at his sudden movement faded quickly as she looked down at her bare hand. "I guess I should try to get some sleep," she admitted, "I am pretty tired… it's been a hell of a long, long week… I feel like I haven't slept in days."

"All the more reason. You deserve it. And again, I'm sorry, Max."

Max stood and wrapped an arm around Warren's shoulder in farewell. He placed a hand on her lower back and held her close, closing his eyes.

They separated and Warren shut her bedroom door quietly, not wanting to spark the ire of any of her roommates.

"Warren, you sneak! You better not have been macking on Max in there!"

Max could hear Dana's distinct voice from the distant hallway, and couldn't help a small grin. She'd have to go and talk to all of her roommates again. All of the conversations of the disappeared week have long since been replaced by days of Max's silence. She felt a little guilty, knowing what some people have been going through. She wanted to help them all over again. Except… as herself. Just pure Max. She worried she might fail without the failsafe of her rewind power. She had to take care of them. Even without her power, she had to take care of them all.

But somehow she felt she'd be okay, even without her abilities. She still had Kate and Warren at her side if she needed them. She wasn't alone anymore, even if she ended up being the outcast of Blackwell.

Max lay back down on her bed, the true exhaustion washing over her like a warm blanket. She cried until her eyelashes were long and wet with tears. She pressed her face into her pillow and screamed until she was hoarse. And without even a moment of thought after, she was asleep.

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AN: Boy, this is a hefty one. And a long one coming. I wrote this long ass fic as soon as I finished playing LiS... almost 2 years ago! I've been sitting on this fic since then. Waiting for when I should publish it. I thought... why not now? This is probably the longest thing I've written so far with plenty more to go.

This is a bit of a different one. I wanted to dive into Max's life right after her ordeal. It will deal with her coping, her friends and relationships, her regrets and fears. It's a heavy story and a bit of a personal one. LiS hit home very hard for me and it made me curious about how Max would deal with everything she went through. I can't imagine a normal person could ever come through it unscathed. This fic will touch on that and more. Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy :) Please review and tell me your thoughts!