Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel or any of the characters, but I sure wish I owned Alec!

Summary: AU Set during Hello Goodbye. Max and Alec do a bit more talking than what is in the actual episode.

Pairing: M/A

AN: I'm glad you guys liked my last chapter! Thanks for the reviews dustori, Pand, Haribo Joe, Loisen, lakergirl08, HYPERLITE.HO, SerafinLatina, and Dark Angel Fan Forever! I really appreciate all the reviews and I really hope you enjoy chapter three!

Chapter 3: Self Preservation

It was the next morning and Alec woke to the feeling of Max's arms rapped tightly around him. He instinctively snuggled closer to her warm body and buried his face in the crook of her neck. He sighed heavily and whispered, " Good morning Maxie. "

Max opened her eyes and smiled. " Good morning to you too Alec. ", Max said softly while lifting a hand to the nape of his neck to run her fingers through the soft hair there.

After a minute Alec slowly pulled away and sat up. Max sat up as well and spoke, worried, " How're you doing Alec? "

Alec opened his mouth to speak but Max cut him off. " And I don't want to hear any of that I'm always alright bullshit you're always spouting. ", she stated sternly.

" I... uh... I... ", Alec stuttered, not knowing what to say.

" Seriously Alec how're you doing? ", Max asked.

" I'm doing better than I was last night, that's for sure.", Alec answered honestly.

" Look Max, thanks for just being there last night, nobody's ever comforted me before. I'm sorry I unloaded on you, I usually have more control on my emotions than that.", Alec said.

" Don't be sorry for having emotions Alec, contrary to what Manticore taught us to believe it's okay to feel. It's okay to cry, sometimes that's the best way to get the pain out.", Max said seriously.

" I guess I know that, but it's hard to believe that I can show my emotions without being punished for it. Like you said, Manticore didn't encourage us to have emotions. They wanted us to be unfeeling soldiers with only thoughts of following orders and completing the mission. I've always had feelings Max, I've just never been allowed to show them and now that I can I'm not really sure how. So I pretend to be happy and hide behind my smart aleck ways and I'm always alright attitude. It's self preservation Maxie, if people think of me as the happy go lucky guy I'm less likely to get close to people which means I'm less likely to get hurt. And the hurt that I already feel well that gets locked away in the back of my mind so I won't hurt anymore.", Alec said brokenly.

He chuckled cynically and said, " It nearly works. "

" I get what you're saying Alec, I used to be the same way. But I realized it doesn't really work you still get hurt, you just aren't letting anybody know it. Why suffer alone? Let somebody be there for you and maybe you won't have to pretend to be happy anymore, maybe you really will be. ", Max said insightfully.

" I guess your right even though I pretend I don't hurt I still do. But I've always pretended and I don't know how to stop now. ", Alec said.

Alec got up, slipped into his jacket and put his boots on. " I should get going I need to find a place to hide out and you need to get to work.", Alec said seriously.

" You're right. I'll walk you out and then come back up and get ready for work.", Max said with a sigh.

They both got off the bed and headed out. When they got outside Max turned to Alec and said, " You better lay low until we get this whole mistaken identity thing sorted out."

" Yeah maybe I'll crash at Joshua's do you think he'll mind? ", Alec asked smirking.

" Are you kidding? He'll love it. ", Max stated.

Alec shot Max a small smile and said, " Well thanks for saving my butt, again. It must be hard huh, having me around? Some guy with Ben's face making you think about things you'd rather forget. "

" Yeah.", she said shrugging her shoulders, " That's probably why I'm such a bitch to you sometimes. "

" Maybe, or you know maybe it's because I'm such a pain in the ass sometimes. ", he said smirking and rapping his arm around her shoulder.

Max smiled and playfully pushed him away, " Be careful. "

Alec shot her a small smile and touched her arm with the sleeve of his jacket. " Always.", he said as he walked away feeling happier than he had in... well ever.

AN: I hope you guys liked it! I'm planning on writing more but I won't write more if nobody's going to read it. So please tell me if you want me to continue. Please review, it's very much appreciated.

Thanks,

Alaina