Max & John Fluff (Apologies Max and Kenny fans, I really shipped Max/John hard back in the day) Just going to be a couple fluffy stories, while I'm stuck with "Return to the Woods".

Max & John: 1st Date

"You're kind of staring at me."

"I can't help it," John said, looking at her tight jeans and some sort of open knit sweater, as he handed her a beer on his back porch. "You look great."

She smiled at that. It took me an hour, she thought, to make myself look like this. For a casual date with John, who should have fled from me after my…I told him I didn't want to date him because he was black, and our kids might get the brunt of it? What is wrong with me? He should have fled…instead he is looking at me like…like he wants to skip dinner and screw my brains out in that lawn chair. "I clean up well. I actually thought you were born wearing suspenders."

She's adorable, he thought, and wary. "There is a lot we need to learn about each other."

She broke into a grin at that, her heart racing a bit at the way he looked at her. "We have time."

"We do."

Oh, crap, she thought, crap. Why is he looking at me like that? We can't stop staring at each other. "John?"

"Max?" he asked. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I…I don't know what to do or say with you. We always end up fighting and…it's like you see me."

"You get under my skin. I like you," he said. "Even when you annoy me. I like us spending time together…like this."

She fiddled with her beer, as he took her hand in his. Smiling a bit, she laced her fingers through his. I like how my fingers look with his. Oh, I do like him too…I've been falling for him for longer than I want to admit. "Me too."

"I should take you out. Show you what a good guy I can be."

She put her beer down and intertwined their other hands. "I know what a good guy you are. I'm happy right here with you."

Complicated, he thought, it's going to get really complicated in this town. Deputy, district attorney, the racial tensions, and her looking like the naughty girl next door with her hands in mine. "How are we doing this?"

"I thought you were cooking me dinner?"

He pulled her in closer to him, catching her breath of surprise at that. "Max."

She held his gaze. "John?"

What am I doing? Cook her dinner, stop touching her, she's so touchable. Releasing her, he stepped back. "Sorry."

"For what?"

"First date and I'm," he started. "It's our first date."

He's just as nervous as I am, she thought, he's never nervous. He's always so calm and collected…so steady with everything. Do I do that to him? Light, she thought, casual. "Can I help? I'm not much of a cook but…I think it might be fun with you."

Ah, Max, he thought, seeing her flush at that. She looks and smells so good right now and I want to keep talking to her. Taking her hand in his again, he squeezed it for a long moment. "I was trying to impressive you with my culinary skills."

"You don't need to impress me…microwave pizza is a staple for me."

"Next time."

She smiled at that. "You think there is a next time?"

He nodded, as they looked at each other again. Wrapping his arms around her, she melted against him. "Why don't we finish this time?"

I like him, oh I really like him. She looked up into his eyes, losing herself in there. Oh. Smiling, she leaned into his kiss, opening her mouth against his. Mm. Enjoying his exploring hands, she sighed in contentment as they wrapped themselves around each other.

"Max," he breathed, pulling back to look at her.

She leaned back in, her lips brushing his. Slipping his hands under her sweater, she giggled, as they melted into each other. "Oh, you're good at this."

"So are you."

He pressed his lips to hers one last time before backing off and taking her hand in his. "I suppose I should feed you."

"You should."

He gulped, looking at her again. So pretty, he thought, I don't think I want to fight with her…I want to kiss her again. Then strip these clothes off her and…No. Dinner. "Max? It'll keep."

"If we keep doing this," she started. "We'll…first date?"

He looked at their linked hands and back at her. We shouldn't, he thought, we said slowly. Feel it out…I like her and I'm having a hard time keeping my hands off her. Squeezing her hand, he led her inside. "I'm putting you to work then."

She smiled at that. "Do know I burn microwave pizza."

I just want to keep talking, John thought, keep looking at you. You're a damn flirt, Max, and you look so…so pretty. Soft…touchable and you smell amazing. "I keep Kara away from the stove, do I have to do the same with you?"

"Are you comparing me to your four-year-old?" she smiled. His adorable four-year-old, he's such a good dad whenever I see them together…it makes me forget how much he is able to antagonize me.

"Only in the kitchen."

Dangerous, Max thought, as they wrapped themselves around each other in the kitchen again. What is happening? I can't stop touching him. "John?"

He kissed her again before backing off. "I figured we should try this inside too. See if it still worked."

She giggled and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Oh, it does. Seriously? If you keep kissing me like this, I'm going to be a puddle of mush on this floor."

"Where is that aggravating and irritating deputy tonight?"

"Maybe not being aggravating because you're not poking her."

"I should have kissed you sooner than. Think of the time we'd save not arguing," he smiled, combing her hair back. "Come on. Grab a spoon. Dinner and then…"

She nodded. "If you can keep your hands to yourself, Counselor."

He gave her one last squeeze before releasing her. "Same to you, Deputy."