The following is a piece of fan-fiction based upon Dontnod Entertainment's Life is Strange. No claim of ownership is made and none is expected to be honored. I own nothing.

It didn't start implicitly as a Pricefield story in the strictest sense, but I do support Pricefield as a pairing and it sort of became more implicit the more and more I wrote. I support Pricefield above the other pairings because even if they've been apart for five years, the one constant in Max and Chloe's lives is that they've always had an amazing connection that brings out the best in both of them and brings them back to each other. And if that ain't true love then I don't know what is.

I hope you enjoy this story.

2013. Alt/Timeline. 16:23pm

What have I done?

'Max?' William, your dad and the man who was dead, says.

Was he dead, really? Does any of that still exist, or is this all there is now? I wish I knew. Warren would know.

'H-hi,' I say, finally, and bring my hand away from my face.

You don't say anything. Can you say anything?

You look happy to see me. That's a victory, I guess.

'Would you like to come in, Max?' William says.

'Yes,' I say and make my way into the hallway.

You smile and then make your way back into the living room.

It's the house that I remember. All the hand-drawn pictures are still in the same places and the same photographs on the walls – photographs from your family's trips around the state, photographs from your trips around the town, and that photograph from that time your dad got that award from Dennis Merrill. I wonder where Joyce put that one in our universe.

There are more photographs too, photographs from trips abroad and photographs from your daily life. There are enough of them that I'm mesmerized by the sheer number. Most of them are from before the accident, but there are a couple from afterward. It's just you and your dad in those.

'Are you coming, Max?' William says and taps me on the shoulder.

It's funny, you know. It feels like that tap on the shoulder from that vision I had on Monday. Kinda feels like you, actually.

'Yes,' I say and follow him to the living room. 'I love what you've done with the house.'

'Turned it into a shrine to the god of photography?' he smiles. 'Thought you would.'

We make our way into the living room and find you sitting next to the glass door closest to the TV, across from the couch that had been pushed into the far corner. Based on the blue butterfly painted on the open door, I guess that William has converted the garage into a bedroom… It must have been easier for you. It looks really nice, by the way. It's very you, very old you, with its pop posters and Jolly Rogers and posters of anime heroines.

The breakfast table is gone, and it's a little bit messy, but it looks the same otherwise, far more than it did when David… I don't even know how to describe it. I remember him living here, but he never did now, did he?

Did it still happen?

Does that make sense?

This is so fucked up.

You do look content. though, like you've finally come home. You look more content than I've seen you in a while. Wait, no, that's not true. You looked content this morning when you were photobombing me and when we were swimming last night. We were home then, right?

You do look awfully happy though…

Is that even you? She's Chloe Elizabeth Price, the same Chloe Elizabeth Price that had my back when we were kids, but she's not the same Chloe Elizabeth Price who promised that we would make the world bow, is she?

I'm not even sure who I'm addressing.

Oh, Lord, I need help.

'Sit down, Max,' William says. 'Would you like something to drink?'

'Yes,' I say as I sit on the couch.

On the table in front of the television, I can see a photograph of you and your dad at what must be your 19th Birthday Party. You look happy, your dad looks proud with his arms on your shoulders. There are no candles to blow out or cake to eat, though.

'Max?'

'Sorry, some tea would be lovely.'

'Great,' William says. 'I'll just be a minute. You girls catch up.'

Your dad disappears into the kitchen and we're left alone and I don't know what to do. I look over to you – her – sitting there with her sandy blonde hair, bathed in the yellow sun, so quiet, so calm.

Do I tell her… you the truth?

Hi Chloe, I know it feels like I haven't seen you in five years, but in reality I saw you earlier this morning after we made out and then broke into your ex-girlfriend's drug dealer ex-boyfriend's RV.

What's that? Oh, it's a long story.

Essentially, your dad died, I left and am apparently an asshole in every iteration of the universe and you fell into a deep depression that was only slightly lifted when you met Rachel Amber. You were desperate to leave Arcadia Bay, but sadly Rachel disappeared before you could. Then, you spent the past six months looking for her.

Your mom married the Blackwell Bus Driver, who in my reality is the head of security and a complete and utter bastard. And on Monday, I realized that I could rewind time, just in time to save you from being murdered by the asshole who almost sexually assaulted you and who you were blackmailing.

Yesterday, we went shooting with step-douche's gun (that you stole), I almost shot Rachel's ex-boyfriend, you almost got run over by a train and I saved my friend Kate from killing herself. Then, we broke into my school, constructed a small explosive device and went swimming.

And this morning I kissed you, but I've already mentioned that. It was quick, but very sweet though. Well, I thought so…

Then I told you the truth about Rachel and broke your heart, again.

What's that, William? No, I'm not on drugs… I think. This new continuity is fucking with me. After the week I've had, though, some drugs would be lovely, thank you.

What do you mean, "get out?"

I realize that I've been staring into space for over a minute and look at you. Dammit, Chloe, she… You look just so damned happy to see me. I don't deserve that look.

'I… I'm sorry,' I say and look down at my feet.

'What was that, Max?' William says as he reappears from the kitchen.

I look up and see that the smile has fallen from your face and then turn to your dad. 'I said I'm sorry, for not calling sooner, I mean.'

'Oh,' he says and then looks towards you, concerned. Tired, far more tired than I've ever seen him, even when he came back from out of state. 'Maybe I should explain. You've caught us on a really bad day, Max. Because of Chloe's condition, she needs a ventilator and a valve attached to her tracheotomy tube in order to raise the amount of oxygen in her blood. Chloe wasn't feeling very well about an hour ago, so we closed the valve for a little while to raise her oxygen level.'

'Oh… I'm sorry.'

'Don't be, Max. How could you know?'

If I actually visited? If I actually bothered to spend time with my friend? If I was a good person?

'I… I guess I couldn't.'

'No, no you couldn't Max. So, how've you been?'

Chloe, I ask utterly honestly and in words that I hope best communicate my heartfelt and sincere confusion. After the week that we've had, what the fuck do I say to that?

'Fine,' I say, unsure of whether or not to address you or your dad. 'I go to Blackwell now.'

'That's great. We had heard that you got a scholarship. Do you have a lot of friends there?'

I look up from my shoes and take a sip of tea. 'A couple. My friend Warren is a bit of a science geek, but he's got a good heart. I think he's going to ask out his friend Brooke. Dana's on the cheerleading squad. Hell, she is the cheerleading squad. There's more pep in that girl than bread in France. Juliet could be Lois Lane. Kate Marsh is…' I smile. 'Kate Marsh is a sweetheart, and I think she could run for Pope and get more than a few votes.'

'Sounds nice,' William says. 'I'm glad that you've made friends.'

'It is, but to be honest my best friend is someone from outside Blackwell,' I say wistfully.

'Oh?'

I can't help but look towards you. 'She's suave and kicks ass… A blue haired punk with a full sleeve tattoo named Lizzie who's going to make the world bow.'

Your dad looks down at his feet, clearly uncomfortable. Do I sound like you do when you talk about Rachel?

'Maybe you'd like to join me and Lizzie once, Chloe?'

You start smiling again.

'It'd be awesome. Mostly we just shoot the shit and listen to music. It's hella fun.'

'I'd need to come with you guys,' William says, 'until you get trained with Chloe's ventilator, I mean. But it does sound like fun.'

'We'd love it if you'd come, William.'

'Are you sure your friend wouldn't mind an old ogre like me hanging about with you guys?'

'Are you kidding? After everything I've said about you, Mr Price, Lizzie would be the happiest person in the world to see you.'

'Well! I'm legendary and I didn't even know it.'

'Yeah… We umn… We were going to go on a road trip. First down to Portland, pay a visit to Powell's, then keep heading south. I think we were going to visit San Francisco, then Los Angeles for a few days before heading to Big Sur and I was wondering if you'd like to join us, Chloe?'

'We'd need to discuss it further, Max. Chloe has specialized medical needs now.'

I take another sip of tea. 'I understand, Mr. Price. I'll do whatever it takes, even if I have to go to the local community college and take classes. It honestly won't be the same without Chloe… It doesn't feel like home without Chloe.'

You blush. It's really cute.

Your dad chuckles again. 'I can't imagine.'

'No, I guess you can't,' I say and take another sip of tea. 'So ummn… What have you been up to Chloe? Are you still in school?'

William smiles. 'Didn't you hear? My little pirate is in university.'

'Really?'

'Oh yeah,' he says and holds your hand. 'Well, remember that Chloe was such a good student in middle school? Well, as soon as she went into high school they let her fill her schedule with AP class after AP class. She did so well that she graduated early and got early acceptance to the University of Oregon.

You smile, clearly proud of your accomplishments. It's insanely cute.

'That's amazing, Chloe. What are you studying?'

'It's mostly Physics, stuff that I don't understand but she absolutely owns,' William says. 'There is some Math and Criminology stuff too, which I do understand. We were talking about some art classes, too, some photography and writing classes, but Chloe seems dead-set on the sciences.'

'That sounds great, Chloe. I'm really happy that you're in university,' I say and finish my tea. 'What about you, William? Are you still with the Marshal's office?'

Your dad looks down to his shoes and pulls his hand away from yours. 'No, Max. After Chloe's accident and Joyce…'

What? Is Joyce? Oh God, Chloe… 'I'm sorry to hear about that, William. I know you loved being a deputy.'

'There was nothing to it really. Someone had to stay home and look after Chloe, so that's what I did. And luckily the Marshal in Portland was nice enough to promote me to Chief Deputy for the area so that I could retire on a Chief Deputy's pension and keep the Chief Deputy's health insurance.'

'Oh, that's good.'

We settle into an easy silence and listen to the television and then share stories. Your dad tells me about the trips he and Joyce took to Paris, Venice and Istanbul. When he speaks about her, he sounds sad. All I can do is listen, nod and then talk about my life, or at least as much as my life as I can.

It's funny, really, making a G-rated version of your own life. I have to cut Chloe out and replace Chloe with Lizzie for a start. And even then I have to tread carefully, cut out the parts that I'm sure he's not going to be happy about and re-wind the parts that turn out he doesn't like anyway. I guess it's good that your dad's so easy going. He's not happy that you like lying down on train tracks, by the way, but he is impressed with how good a shot I made you sound.

'I'm glad that you made a friend, Max, and I think that you, Lizzie and Chloe are going to have a great time.'

'Yeah.'

After talking a little longer, your dad notices that you're falling asleep. I turn my head and notice it too, your eyes falling every few seconds. I ask if everything's alright.

'Yeah, I think she's just tired. Do you want to go to bed, Chloe?'

You blink once and smile.

Outside, the sky has gone black and the pale yellow sun replaced by the full moon.

'Okay,' your dad says. 'I'll put you to bed.'

'I think I'll be going if you're going to sleep, Chloe,' I say and stand up.

I move over towards your chair and give you a light hug. 'Bye, Chloe. It was really lovely to see you today.'

When I pull away, you're smiling again. Why was I ever scared of that impish smile?

You mouth goodbye and make your way into your bedroom.

'Chloe,' your dad says. 'I'll just see Max out and then I'll be in to you.'

Once you're out of the room, he turns to me and says, 'It's been a really long day. She had an exam this morning.'

'Yeah, I can imagine,' I say.

I stare at your bedroom door and think about things, about everything that happened before, everything that happened since I came back, and everything that we talked about. You seem really happy, but... Something feels off, like I'm in a dream or watching a movie from a really long time ago. It's not like when I went back to save your dad. It's just... weird. It doesn't feel good.

'William,' I say. 'Do you remember that day just before I left for Seattle that you went to pick up Joyce from the store? We had a movie night the night before and were making pancakes'

'I think so... Why?'

'We took a couple of photographs that day. First me and Chloe, and then you and Chloe. Release the keys?'

'Oh' he chuckles. 'Release the keys… Yeah, I remember that, Max. Why?'

'I was wondering if I could have that photograph, for my collection.'

'Oh,' he says and goes for the photo album. 'Sure Max.'

While he's doing that, I write down my name and my cell phone number on a flyer from school and leave it on the table. After a quick moment, he finds the photograph and hands it to me. It's in the same place as it was in my universe.

'Thank you very much, William,' I say. 'I've left my number on a piece of paper on the table. I'd really appreciate a call when Chloe's feeling better.'

'I'm sure Chloe would love that, Max.'

'Yeah,' I say.

I'm back in my dorm and I don't know what to do.

I think it's my dorm, at least. It's my name on the door, and there are some of my photographs hanging on the wall, but there are plenty that aren't mine, plenty that belong to the other Max. Kate's bunny is gone, too, as is my lovely carpet. My wardrobe has been replaced by named brands that I could never afford and honestly don't really like. The movie collection royally sucks too, and the captain is nowhere to be found.

I fucking hate it. All of it.

But she… you… she seems really happy, Chloe, and nice.

Are you her?

Are you happy?

Your dad's still alive, so that's good. And David is drowning in his own karma. Victoria seems nicer here. And Warren is… Warren, I guess. I can always befriend him again, I suppose. But your mom... And no one's mentioned Kate or Rachel Amber. And what about me, who am I now? I barely recognize the Max in these photographs. I'm scared.

What should I do?

I look down at the photograph in my hands and I suddenly I know how to get back. It's like knowing how to swim – you just sort of know, you know? All I have to do is want to go back and splish splash - none of this would have happened. You'd still be… you, Warren would be back on track to making whoopee with Brooke and Kate would be the nice lady across the hall and I'd be looking after her bunny.

But, if I did that, what would I be?

Am I a force of nature like you think, or am I just manipulative, another member of the vortex club, only with much more pull? Would changing the past again make me any different than Nathan's dad?

Would it make things worse?

I wish you were here, Chloe. I guess you can be manipulative sometimes, but I need you now. I need you to take this burden away from me.

Would going back in time make me William's murderer? Would you blame me? Would you hate me?

All I have to do is think and there I am, back in your kitchen in 2008… It would be more effort to ask someone, honestly. But it's my decision, just mine, isn't it? And I've got to live with it forever.

This is so fucked up.

What would you do, Chloe?

What about you, Kate?

Mom?

Dad?

What should I do?

I hope you've enjoyed this chapter. Thank you very much for reading.