Alright, so i'll start off by saying that this is just a collection of short one-shots. I'll try and update as frequently as possible, all depending on the feedback. I've wanted to write for these two for a while now, because from the very beginning I definitely saw their obvious chemistry, and I knew I wasn't the only one. I am a beginner when it comes to writing, and English is not my first language, so I can not promise my grammar will be 100% correct. Anyways, I hope you enjoy, I love to read your reviews.(:

Layout idea inspired by Wondersquint(:

Just Another Tragic Love Story

a series of Maxton one-shots by Tigress Tears

Barrier

This was the last thing she needed right now. All she wanted to do after Carroll's arrest was to be able to relax without having to constantly look behind her to see if some psycho was going to stab her or something.

But that just doesn't work when you're a Hardy, does it?

It was the morning after Joe Carroll's arrest, and it's gotten to the point where she couldn't even sleep without having nightmares of Mark and whatever his revenge might be towards her for shooting his brother. In her defense, he had said some pretty nasty things to her before.

Max's nightmares were getting out of hand. It's 4 AM and she hasn't even gotten a wink of sleep yet. There was the phone, right there, on her desk. She could easily just dial one number and feel better instantly. It hasn't even been a full day and she already missed him. She couldn't call him at 4 AM… or could she? The last thing she should be doing is reaching towards the phone yet here she is, doing it right now. God damn it.

Mike almost never kept his phone underneath his pillow, so when he was awoken by the vibration of his phone, he nearly fell off the bed. He groaned in annoyance. Who could possibly be calling him at 4 in the goddamn morning? Mike reached underneath his pillow and grabbed his cell phone, the bright light abusing his eyes. When he got used to the light a few seconds later, he could barely make out the caller ID that read: MAX HARDY.

For some reason, his annoyance instantly cooled off when he saw her name, and quickly answered it. "Hello?" He asked, trying to best to make it sound like he hadn't just woken up. Suddenly growing worried. "Max?"

"I'm here." The young detective responded. She sounded like she didn't get any sleep at all. Did she?

"Hey, are you okay?" Mike asked, softly with a hint of urgency in his voice.

"Yeah I'm fine- well- sort of. Not really, can you come over?" She asked suddenly. Her words slurred together, making it hard to understand what she was saying but he was able to connect the pieces.

"Yeah, sure of course." He responded, automatically getting up and grabbing his jacket which was hung over a chair. It was pouring rain outside, he could hear it against his windows. As quick as he possibly could, he went over to Max's apartment.

When Max heard a knock at her door, she quickly sprang up from where she was sitting and answered the door.

Max was greeted by a soaking wet Mike, who shook his head like a dog, getting water all over her. Max just laughed when he apologized.

"Nightmares? That's new, coming from 'the tough detective.'" Mike said, mimicking her voice.

"Hey I don't sound like that!" Max responded, laughing. How does he do that? How does he make her feel ten times better by staying at her apartment for not even a full five minutes?

"Are you thirsty? Hungry? Er, I could-"Max began rambling, desperate to make him feel welcome in her apartment.

"Woah, calm down, no I don't need anything, I'm fine." Mike said, with a laugh, motioning for her to sit back down, which she did. "What's really bothering you?" He asked, softly, wrapping one arm around her.

Max shrugged, avoiding his gaze. All she could think about at that moment was how every second played out in the mansion. "I killed someone, Mike." She said, suddenly. "I'm supposed to save lives, not take them." She whispered. "How does killing Luke make me any better than Lily, or Mark, or- or Joe Carroll?"

"Wait a minute." Mike stopped her. "You're nothing like Lily, Mark, or Joe. If it wasn't for you I'd be dead right now. I wouldn't be sitting here with you." He paused silently and added, "and I wouldn't have kissed you." He looked over at Max, and at that point wondered what they were. Was she his girlfriend? Were they even official? Did she even feel the same way about him as he did her? He just wanted to ask her all these questions, but he decided to keep his mouth shut for a little longer.

Max, who had been staring at their joined hands, looked up to meet his eyes, and at that point, he was positive she felt the same way. An awkward silence took its place, and before anything else could happen- anything she was positive she'll regret later on, she got up and finally said, "Well thank you for coming. I think I'll be able to sleep now." She lied.

Mike could tell she was lying, and simply shook his head. "Wait a minute, not so fast." He said, grabbing Max's shoulder, who had already turned around. They locked eyes for what was probably the hundredth time today, and just stared at each other.

"Mark's still out there." She finally said. "He knows you killed Lily, and I killed his brother. He's going to want revenge Mike, for destroying his family, and I just don't know if I'm ready for that kind of pressure. I'm tired of constantly looking over my shoulder all the time, I just want to go back to the way things used to be before… All of this!" Max took a deep breath. She had basically just let out all her feelings in about 10 seconds. Now all she could do was wait for Mike's response.

However, Mike had nothing to say. So instead, he wrapped his arms around her, and sat back on the couch. The next thing he knew, they were lying down.

She felt so safe with him, as if he was some sort of barrier. She felt so protected, as if nothing- or no one could hurt her whenever she was with him, and here they were, lying on the couch, Max's head buried in his chest.

There was nowhere else he'd rather be.

Well, that was fun to write. I hope you enjoyed reading, because I definitely enjoyed writing it.