Title: Hello, Goodbye: The start of Something Beautiful.

Author: Lakeia

Rating: PG- 13

Pairing Max and Alec.

Spoilers: Hello, Goodbye of course. I don't know, anything that's happened season 2

Disclaimer: Don't own anything because if I did Alec would be home with me. LOL!

Dedication: To the writers for such a wonderful plot. The whole episode had me so emotional. It was beautiful.

A/N: This was the best episode in season 2. So much Max and Alec interaction made me giddy so I had to write about it.

Alec watched Max as she silently cried. Salty tears slowly rolling down her cheeks. Alec took this time to think his face filled with emotions. *Max had killed Ben? * He thought. Then it all finally made sense. Why Max was always so bitchy towards him at times. It was because she felt guilty about Ben. Seeing Alec everyday knowing that she killed her brother and to have some guy remain her of that moment everyday these past months when she saw him. Alec took time to register this information before placing his hands softly on Max's shoulder pulling her against his firm and muscular chest. He breathed in her hair before placing a chaste kiss on the top of her head.

"I'm sorry Max.' He breathed softly, head resting lightly on top of her own. Alec didn't know what else to say. Manticore wasn't real big with the whole sharing of human emotions. You were given an order, you followed it, not questions asked. So he just held her as she wept.

Max sat on the stool and cried while Alec comforted her. She didn't even realize that she was leaning into his embrace. The tears became heavier and her weeps turned to sobs as she let go of all her unreleased feelings. She took hold of Alec's right hand and placed it completely around herself holding him desperately as if a life line, needing to be cared for. She buried her face in his chest pulling him as close as she could as she cried uncontrollably. Alec complied with her need, tighten his embrace. He pushed the loose strands of hair cascading over her face behind her ear, caressing the soft skin of her cheek. whispering soothing words or comfort.

Alec watched the strongest girl he had ever known wept in his arms. *This is Max. * He thought. *The girl who kicked my ass more than once, took down Manticore, managed to evade White's guys more than once and take care of the people that she cares about. Hell, she was even always there to bail my ass out of trouble. Tonight at the jailhouse shinning example. * Alec was brought out of his thoughts when he heard Max's cries cease.

Max pulled herself off of the kitchen stool and out of Alec's embrace to her feet. Her back turned to him she tried to pull herself together Using her hands she wiped away the tears and tear stains from her face. When she turned to face him, Alec was looking at her intently wondering if she was okay. Max looked down from his gaze. She never expected or wanted Alec to see this side of her. She guessed that after holding her tough girl image around him and others, it was hard to let go of that. She knew Alec felt the same way, he felt liked he had to maintain that cocky smile and I-don't-care attitude, but she knew he cared. This was just baggage from their freaky non-normal childhood, only Alec had been living that way practically all his life. Max looked up from the floor, trying to get her thoughts in order. When she saw Alec he was just as lost in thoughts as her.

"Um.." Max started trying to find the right words to say. Alec looked her in the eyes as she did the same. * Those eyes. * Max thought. *Those beautiful blue-green eyes. * Part of Max felt like she was seeing Alec for who he was. The real Alec. The one that cared about others and was sincere with his gestures. No Ben, just him and this brought a smile to her face.

Alec watched Max as a smile crept upon her lips. He looked closer. * Is that a....?* He thought. *No, that can't be. Is that a smile? * He asked himself. Sure enough it was a smile; not the biggest of smiles, but a genuine smile none the least.

"Thanks, Alec." Max said getting out the right words she wanted to say. Alec smiled accepting her gratitude. "Anytime Max." He stated. They stayed awkwardly silent for a moment before Alec spoke. He rubbed his hands together. " So..how 'bout that coffee?" He asked trying desperatly to change the subject.

"Okay." Max answered. Alec moved aside so that she could get to the pot of brewing coffee. She placed the mugs she had gotten out of the cabinet on the Kitchen Island and began to pour. Alec went to the couch and removed his leather jacket placing it on the arm of the chair. He looked around the room. "Hey, do you want sugar and cream in your coffee?" Max asked from the kitchen area.

"Sure." He answered nodding his head. Seconds later Max came to the couch, two mugs in her hands. She took a seat beside him, handing him his coffee and placing her own on the nearby table.

"Thanks." Alec said taking a quick sip of the scolding liquid. "Aw!!" She shouted when the coffee burned his tongue. Max tried hard not to laugh at the situation but she found herself not being to hold it in. She chuckled at him. Alec shot her a look as if upset, but he wasn't. * It was good to see her laugh. * Alec though. * It was better than seeing her crying. *

"You'd think with your superior DNA, you would know when something is too hot to drink." Max teased.

"Yeah, whatever." He said playfully throwing a cushion pillow her way.

"Aw!" Max gasped as the pillow connected against her head. She glared at Alec who only gave her the innocent "what" look. She throw the pillow back at him, he caught it before it had a chance to hit him in the face. He smiled at her triumphantly. Max grabbed another pillow off of the couch and slung it at him this time hitting him upside the head. They looked at each other. Pillow Fight both jumped up off the couch and began to hit one another back and forth with the pillows. Max getting just a few more shots than Alec. Max took another swing at Alec only to have him duck. He took this opportunity to win the fight. Alec began hitting Max with the pillow lightly, she blocked most of them but the closer he came the farther she back away until she fell onto the couch. Max put the pillow over her head to shield her from the upcoming blow. When she looked up Alec was in front of her with a pillow raised above his head. "You give?" He asked smiling victoriously. Max lowered her pillow in defected. "Yeah, yeah I give. I give." She said quickly climbing to her feet. Alec lowered his pillow bringing it to his side. Max took this opportunity to snatch it right out of his hands. Alec looked at her with shock.

"Sucker." Max exclaimed in joy as she hit him repeatly with both pillow making him loose his balance and fall on the couch as well only this time taking her down with him.

Max and Alec looked into each other eyes as they lay on top of one another. Alec's hands placed firmly on her hips. They both lay still. *Why am I not moving? * Max asked herself. Her mind was saying get up, but her body was saying stay. She found herself unconsciously licking her lips.

Alec was mesmerized; all he could see was the beautiful girl laying on top of him and the feeling of her body against his own. And when he saw her tongue dart out to the moisten some of the fullest lips he had ever seen, all he want to do was kiss her. *Kiss her* He thought. Alec's hand reach up to Max's face guiding her lips to his own. To his surprise Max was not stopping him. In fact she was moving closer for further contact. All of a sudden something inside of Alec snapped. He couldn't do this, with her hurt over Logan. He would not do this. Alec gently pushed Max up off of his body on to the couch. Max looked at him confused then she realized what he had done. He didn't want her to make a mistake. Something that she would regret later or blame herself for, even Alec for the matter.

Alec sat there looking away from Max's gaze. He wanted her. Not just for sex like he did every other girl that he came a cross. He wanted her, all of her. Her heart. Which happened to be something that he convinced him self that he would never have.

"Alec?" Max said softly.

Alec looked up at Max who had not taken her eye off of him the entire time. "Yeah?" He asked nervously. Alec was not prepare for the words that came out of Max's mouth.

'Could you tell me about Rachael?" She asked.

Alec just stared at her.

************

TBC

A/N: Did you guys like the story? Review, let me know. Tomorrow I will have the second chapter to this story. I had to cut it short because it's kinda of late. The more the reviews the more chapters I post. I had to get this out of my head and on paper fast because I can not stop thinking about this episode. I loved it and just wanted to add to the "Hello, Goodbye" fics out there

P.S: I hope you guys get use to me because I plan on writing tons of fics revolving around Alec and Max, my favorite couple.