The pair was impervious standing next to the lighthouse. For some reason, it was a sanctuary for both of them, protected from the horror below, the carnage that was the storm, but at the same time, vulnerable and broken, from prior events and no doubt from situations that were still to come.

Max buried her face into Chloe's shoulder, tears streaming down her eyes. She was in anguish, thoughts still flashing in her mind of Jefferson prodding needles into her skin like she was some kind of experiment or lab rat. That crazy psychopath, how could anyone do that to another person and feel ok about it, she thought to herself. Rachel, Nathan and in a few other universes, even Chloe fell victim to his sick practices but she was glad it was over, she had Chloe by her side now, everything was going to be okay, Chloe was there for her and she knew she would have her support the whole way through this crazy, strange part of their lives.

They stood there, next to the lighthouse for quite some time, Max's face still buried into Chloe's shoulder. Noticing her friend's pain, Chloe moved her mouth next to Max's ear and whispered, "it's okay Max, We'll get through this, together."

Max lifted her face from Chloe's shoulder and nodded with a smile which also brang a smile to Chloe's face as she said "now let's get out of this damn rain Max, you're drenched and shivering."

It was a long shot and Chloe didn't think it would work, but to her surprise, the lighthouse door wasn't locked. Holding Max's hand tightly, they both entered, Chloe leading the pair to protect her from anything that might be inside, but, there was no one inside and better yet, there was light, meaning there must be a generator nearby and also some food on a shelf, a single bed but with no blanket for whatever reason and what appeared to be a locked chest at the end of the bed which peaked both of their interests.

Her curious nature getting the better of her, wanting to check out what was inside the chest, Chloe let her hand slip from Max's, stunned that someone was actually living in the lighthouse and her or Max didn't even know about it and why was the door unlocked and what is the story behind the mysterious missing blanket and locked chest with strange, etched markings all over it? Something they may very well never find out.

Startled by Chloe letting go of her hand, Max was quick to catch up to Chloe and lace their fingers back together, Chloe turned to Max and said "sorry Max, I kinda spaced out for a second, I never knew all of this stuff was in here, a lot has changed since the last time we were here."

"Tell you what, how about you go sit on the bed and I'll go cook us up something and we can eat and talk some things out."

It had actually been a while since Max had spoken a word, still in shock over sacrificing Arcadia Bay, all of those lives lost for her precious Chloe, how was she going to live with herself? Despite all of those dark thoughts in her mind, she mustered enough energy to speak up. "No Chloe, please, please don't leave me I can't be alone, please..."

Chloe couldn't help but feel sorrow looking into Max's deep blue eyes, she has been through so much, sacrificed so much, all for her. Was she really worth that much? Max must think the world of her to let a whole town turn into wreckage just so she could live to see another day, to be by her side.

"Max, it's going to be okay, everything is going to be just fine, I promise, I'll never leave your side again, but you have to promise me that you will be strong through this, be strong for me, okay?"

For the first time that felt like an eternity, Max let her hand leave Chloe's and she stood up straight and said, "okay, I'll try my best, I just need some time to process all of this. Now how about that food? I'm starving!"

A smile instantly came to Chloe's face hearing this from Max, she jumped out at her, giving a big hug, almost causing them to both almost topple over onto the ground.

"That's the spirit, Max!" Chloe let out, not noticing that her trademark dark blue beanie had fallen off of her head.

Max rushed over to it, picked it up and put it on her own head. "Come and get it, dork" Max quipped.

"Oh no, you didn't just do that Max Caulfield, no one but me, myself and I are allowed to wear the blue beanie."

"You get back here right this instant Max Caulfield!" Chloe bellowed as she was chasing Max up the nearly endless flight of stairs that spiralled up the lighthouse.

Chloe finally made it to the top and was quick to gasp for air. "Who knew that pocket-sized girl could run so fast?" Chloe thought to herself as she reached the final step.

Max was just standing there, staring out the window of the lighthouse, glancing at the remains of Arcadia Bay. Chloe walked up to Max's side, shoulder to shoulder and looked down at her noticeably smaller friend and at what seemed to be impeccable timing, Max looked up at Chloe and slowly crept towards her, pushing her arms out from her body and cupping Chloe's pale white cheeks that quickly flushed red as Max's hands met her face.

"Max I.. I just want to say, whatever happens... tha... Chloe was caught by surprise as Max leant in and their lips met, Chloe closed her eyes as Max pushed their lips harder together, not wanting the kiss to end, Chloe wrapped her arms around Max's lower back pushing their stomachs together while Max pushed her tongue into Chloe's mouth, massaging Chloe's with her own. Their lips finally parted and Chloe released her tight grip around Max's back completely speechless that Max, her best friend and known introvert was capable of doing such a thing.

"Damn, Max, that was quite the move you pulled on me, I had no idea..."

Ever since she had been back in Arcadia Bay, Chloe had feelings towards Max and had expressed them regularly and was never too obvious but had always hoped that Max felt the same way and now she was in a state of serenity she had never felt before. She was never leaving Max. Never again would she leave her side, not for a second.

"No idea that what?" Max asked Chloe with a twinkle in her eye.

"That you felt the same way about me..." Chloe muttered out, barely able to look Max in the eye slightly embarrassed from what had just happened, which was strange because she always put on a strong and confident look but deep down, it was just a front to her true self, a highly sensitive and compassionate person that no one had seen from her before, except for Max.

"Chloe, I have always loved you, it has just taken me this long for me to realise it. Now come here and give me a hug you blue hair punk."

Chloe leant down and wrapped her arms around Max's lower back and they slowly crept upwards and Chloe was quick to snatch her beanie back from Max's head and whispered in her ear, "I'll take that back you little thief."

Their bodies parted and Max couldn't help but put on an impish grin as she looked up at Chloe, admitting her defeat. "You win this round, Price. Now, how about that food?"