A/N: This is a three part Spixie story. It was an idea that came to me and didn't go away until it was written.

Anyway, it takes place in August 2010 and I don't really explain everything but you get the picture once the story starts going. Italics are flashbacks.

I will post the second chapter this weekend, and the third early next week. As always feedback is love.

But time has changed nothing at all -
You're still the only one that feels like home.
I've tried cutting the ropes and
I let you go but you're still the only one
That feels like home.

(Ten Days – Missy Higgins)

August 2010

Pushing through the door she rolled her eyes at the shoes lying haphazardly by the door, the mail strewn across the coffee table. Grabbing the shoes she walked down the hallway and threw them at his bedroom door, then went back to the pile of mail. After sorting through the bills she held the oversized envelope in her hand. Curiously she ripped it open and gasped.

"Well it looks like your wish finally came true" Kate said walking into Crimson.

Maxie arched an eyebrow and she finished, "Lulu quit this morning, told me she was going to crash at some friends house in Los Angeles"
"Oh" was the only thing she could really say like she didn't know exactly why Lulu was leaving.

"I didn't hear you come home" Johnny said as he came out of the shower.

Looking at him she scowled, "You left your shoes by the door again"

"Sorry babe" he said sitting down next to her, "What's that?" he asked pointing to the clutched paper.

She tossed it at him haphazardly, "Seems Lulu wormed her way back into Dillon's bed and they are getting married in the Quartermaine garden next month"

The tiny smirk on his face fell, "They invited us?" he asked staring down at it like it was going to spontaneously combust.

Looking at him she grabbed it back, "I'm sure Dillon invited me, and date" she added.

"So are we going?"

Instantly it was his eyes that flashed through her mind, and it was selfish but she wasn't going to give up a chance to see him again, to wonder if his lips would still curl in that goofy smile at the sight of her, "Well of course we're going"

OoO

"No, I don't think you understand, this dress is for a Crimson photo shoot, as in leading magazine in the 18-25 and 26-32 demographic, Kate Howard of Couture fames pride and joy, yes that magazine. I expect it to be shipped overnight express and on my desk in the morning. That's J-O-N-E-S" she finished before clicking her blue tooth as she headed into the coffee house.

"Good morning Miss Jones, you're regular?" the barista asked smiling.

Nodding with a smile she clicked the screen on her Blackberry to make sure she wasn't forgetting anything. Behind her she heard a familiar voice, "Yes, I RSVP'ed already. No, it's not problem…Jason and I want you to come stay at the Penthouse, maybe we'll even slap a fresh coat of paint on the pink room, okay see you then"

The words made her ears perk up as she turned to her best friend, "Wow, an early morning?" she asked teasingly.

Grabbing her cup of coffee off the bar the brunette smiled, "Late night, surveillance on a cheater, I am going home to take a bubble bath and climb in bed" she said purposely circling the question that hung in the air.

Arching her eyebrow she looked at her phone and then back up to Sam's face, "He's coming home for the wedding?" she asked.

Sam bit her lip and tapped her foot, "He's the best man"

"Oh"

"Spinelli, you promised, you promised you'd never leave me" she cried.

There were tears making puddles in his puppy dog eyes, "Does the Maximista still not understand the depths of his feelings?"

"Spinelli"

"I love you Maxie" he said surprisingly stoic which made her borrowed heart sink into her stomach, "And the Jackal wishes you and the mob prince all the happiness but he cannot stand here and watch idly as his heart is being shattered into pieces"

Her words were lost and then he touched her cheeks and brought his lips to hers quickly, "Goodbye Maximista"

"Spin" she cried but he was already out the door.

Sam touched her arm, "Hey, you okay?"

Shrugging it off you grabbed the lattes off the counter, "Yeah fine, see you at the wedding" she said before making her way out the door.

Walking into Crimson she saw Kate on the cordless; the baby nestled on her hip. Putting the lattes down she opened her arms for Kate to hand her James as she argued with whoever was on the other line, "Yes, I do understand but if the North Atlantic were frozen over I'd tell you to give her some ice skates and a parka, oh no, I'm serious. Twenty minutes, and then I'm going to find some other model to put on my cover" she said hanging up.

Rolling her eyes she took the baby, "Mommy is going to avoid killing a model so she doesn't have to go to jail" she cooed as he gurgled.

Maxie put the latte in the other hand, "I talked to Herrera's people this morning. Major b-i-t-c-h" she spelled out for the babies sake, "But the dress should be her tomorrow morning"

Bringing the drink to her lips she nodded, "Great, if we have a model, her agent said she is snowed in somewhere in Greenland which I think is code for took a little too much up the nose this weekend if you know what I mean"

Kate Howard was a bitch…self admitted and proud. She was also the best in her game and had turned a start up magazine into something huge in turn giving Maxie the opportunity of a lifetime as junior editor. Plus the whole motherhood thing had softened her in ways, in others not so much, "You're late" she yelped at the new assistant.

Smiling Maxie shook her head in pity for the girl…it wasn't too long ago she was in her shoes.

After barking instructions to her the girl ran out in a flurry and Maxie laughed. Kate rolled her eyes, "It's hard getting good help" she teased turning towards her office.

Ric sauntered in a half an hour later with a bouquet of roses, "Is my wife here?" he asked.

Walking out with the baby Kate scowled, "I would say you're late but in fact your son is stinky so you're really just on time" she said scrunching her face in annoyance and handing him the baby.

Leaning over he kissed her cheek, "I love you too" he said before leaving.

After finishing the mock ups she walked into Kate's office where her boss was looking at a suspiciously familiar invitation, "You going?" she asked hoping there was no squeak in her voice.

"Are you kidding, of course, Frederico is sending up a rack full of dresses to look through. Are you going is the question?" she asked arching her eyebrow.

"A reason to dress up, of course I'm going" Maxie answered hoping the sarcasm covered the real reason she was going to this wedding.