Hello, ladies (and gentlemen?). Chapter three has arrived, but before that, I'd like to thank you guys again for reading and taking the time to review. Reviews equals to love in my world :)

Sorry I couldn't update sooner but that thing called life keeps getting in the way. Plus, this one was kind of a challenge. I had to re-write half of it 'cause it just didn't 'sound' right. Does that make any sense? Who knows...

As always, I do not own Dark Angel nor the No Doubt's lyrics, though the possible typos do belong to me.

Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy it!


Sunday Morning


Sappy pathetic little me
That was the girl I used to be
You had me on my knees
I'd trade you places any day

Sunday Morning – No Doubt


Max woke up early, as usual. Knowing there was no way she'd go back to sleep, she abandoned the blanket's warmth and grabbing some fresh clothes, sauntered to the bathroom. She came to a halt hearing Alec's rhythmic slow breaths coming from the living room where he was sleeping soundly. Leaning on the bedroom's door frame, she got a glimpse of him. He was lying on his back, his left arm up on the pillow. His head was partially turned to her and his lips slightly parted. Long thick lashes rested on his cheekbones, his face completely relaxed. The steady rise and fall of his chest indicated he wasn't aware of her presence. Apparently, he felt safe enough with her being in his enviroment, for he didn't stir.

There's something you don't see every day, she thought. When awake, Alec's face was always saying something. She'd learnt how to distinguish his true smiles from his trademark smirks. She knew how to tell if he was embarrased —yes, for her own shock, Alec knew what shame was and sometimes he couldn't stop from showing it— or if he was trying to get himself loose from the hook. She knew that when his feelings threatened to rise he'd conceal them according to Manticore's teachings, slamming that mask on his face, pretending to be always alright.

Max sighed and looked out the window. The sky was turning to a lighter blue. Strangely enough, a sunny day appeared to be in the cards. Smiling softly at the prospect, she turned and headed to take that shower.

She emerged from the bathroom when the rising sun rays already filtered through the living room window. The smell of fresh brew coffee invaded her nose and she inhaled deeply. She loved that scent in the morning. A pleased little smile appeared on her face which soon became a grin at the sight of Alec in the kitchen with a serious case of bed hair. She resisted the urge to chuckle and make him aware of her staring. Alec seemed completely focused on making breakfast. Scrambled eggs, toasts and coffee. He'd must felt her gaze and he turned around rather comically, his face showing the signs of a person who hasn't been awake for more than ten minutes.

"Mornin', sleepyhead," Max joked. She was on a really good mood despite de events of the week, by 'events' meaning her discussion with Logan. She hadn't called him yet, but it was on the top on her 'to do' list.

"Mornin', Maxie," he answered in a deep voice.

Alec gave her a smile, one of the real ones that even reached his eyes. His hazel irises were brighter than any other occasion she could remember, maybe because of sun light; yet there was something there she couldn't... She shook her head, smile still playing on her lips, not wanting to over analyze the moment.

Max came closer to him and stood on her toes, searching the highest shelf for two cups. She felt Alec turn to her, trying to help most likely.

"S' okay, I got it," she said, holding firmly the porcelain Joshua'd made for her. She poured coffee in both and handed one of them to Alec. Just like that, the smile was back on his face.

The need to tell him he should do that more often surged in Max. He had a beautiful smile. However, she didn't want the atmosphere to change, so she kept her mouth shut or rather occupied with her coffee.

She remembered quite well what Joshua'd said of Alec. Outside, tricks and treats. Inside, darkness and confussion. But in times like this she had the certainty that not only bad memories lain within him. There was also light and a kind heart under his devil-may-care façade. She just wasn't so sure how would he react if she dared to say it out loud, nor if she would be up to the challenge.

"Hope you're hungry, Maxie."

His voice pulled her out of her thoughts. Max nodded in response and approached to the kitchen stall, sitting beside him. She was half way on her eggs when the silence became too much for him.

"So, what are your plans for this fine Sunday?" he asked nonchalantly, sipping his coffee.

"Well, I have some schemathics to look on and... uhm... some calls to make. Other than that..." she shrugged to end the sentence. She didn't want to bring up Logan's name.

"Leave the work for the evening, Max. I'll give you a hand. Enjoy the day," he said, gesturing towards the window.

It was truly a wonderful day, a rare occurence given Seattle's normal weather. He was right, she couldn't waste such opportunity keeping herself locked up in HQ.

"What do you suggest?"

The thought of the strangeness of her asking for his opinion on something non work related didn't compute in her head. Yet surely did in his, for Alec's brow frowned. He gaped for a moment and as soon as he realised she was obviously waiting for an answer, he urged his brain back into function.

"I uhm... was thinking to go visit Josh. Haven't seen him all week. Wanna come?" he offered, hoping for the best. But this was Max, therefore, he also braced for the worst.

"Yeah, sure," she nodded and stood, collecting the already empty plates and cups. "What?" she asked when she saw Alec's surprised expression.

"Nothin'... I'll take a shower."

"Yeah, go. I'll clean this up."

Alec did as he said. Looked for some clothes in his duffel bag —he had to do something about that. He would have to grow a pair and ask for some space in Max's closet— and then headed to take a bath. He undressed, checking in the mirror the bruising on his ribs, consequence of his last sparring session going a bit out of hand. He had been riled up by a bunch of things, namely Max, and he'd lost his concentration. The bruise was almost gone. He recalled Max's injured hands and her reluctance to share the reason for it, but he was pretty sure it was due to Logan. He sighed. That man was going to be Max's doom. They had broken up months ago and he still refused to let her be. If he loved her so much as he said he did, why not respect her decision? Sure, Logan was a smart man and he knew how to build his case through indirect actions, but it was no secret he wanted her back.

Alec wondered though why it mattered so much to him, it wasn't his problem after all and Max was capable of fighting her own battles.

After a proper shaving and a shower, he stepped out of the bathroom fully dressed, finding the place tidy and overly quiet. The bed was made, the kitchen was clean. Even his blankets and pillow had been put carefully away. But no Max. She had bolted and ditched him yet again. Figures. It was too good to be true that she actually would enjoy spending time with him.

That's when he found a little note waiting on the kitchen stall. Max's round handwritting filled the paper.

I'll be back in ten.

M.

Suddenly, he felt incredibly stupid. For starters, Max had shut him up once again and this time she didn't even had to open her mouth to do so. And second, what was with this woe-is-me fest he was throwing? Pathetic, he thought. Just what he needed, being whipped by a piece of paper.

The note has nothing to do with this and you know it... It's writer probably does.

Alec groaned. Whatever. He was not walking down that road, no way. Last thing he needed was his amazing IQ deciphring what the hell it was going on between him and Max, because once the knowledge is at concious reach is damn difficult to push away. Besides, this hole thing of sharing living space was confusing at best. He'd thought it'd be a walk in the park; okay, maybe not that easy, but simpler than this. Alec's problem wasn't the banter and witty remarks or her late night pacing through the bedroom, not even her bitchiness —he couldn't believe he was actually thinking that. All that was familiar, a safe ground of sorts. The issue were those moments when he caught himself considering the prospect of something more, like when she smiled tenderly or she laughed hard because of one of his lame jokes...

His inner rambling came to a halt when he heard a loud thump and then the front door opened.

"A little help here..."

Max came in bearing four full loaded backpacks and they appeared to be heavy as well. Alec rushed to her side, grabbing a couple of the bags, confirming that.

"What the hell, Max? What's this?" he asked, letting his cargo down on the kitchen floor.

"Our monthly rations," she responded, pointing at them as if it was obvious. Alec frowned.

"Why didn't you wait for me?" Okay... That'd sounded a little too whiny for his own liking and he was secretly glad Max was looking the other way when he spoke, because he was sure he'd made a face to go with.

"Well, you seemed eager to celebrate your thirtieth birthday in the shower so I had time to spare." He stared at her smiling form, his silence implying she wasn't nearly as funny as she thought she was. She always teased him about his looks and how much time and energy he invested in his morning shaves. He'd explained that with their transgenics metabolisms, their hair growth rate was higher, something she already knew. She'd told him to stop being such a girl.

"I could've helped," he said, feeling a bit useless. Stop the whine, dude... Seriously... The voice of his conscience sounded strangely similar to Mole's.

"It's not a big deal, Alec. 'Sides, wanna help? Here," she said while passing him some of the canned goods from the bags.

Swiftly and in silence, they started to put the food away and Max set apart a box of cookies to take to Joshua's. Alec was too deep in thought to notice the glances she was throwing from time to time.

At first, he hadn't been sure what to make of this Max, the one who didn't want to murder him as soon as he opened his mouth. But as the months rolled through and Max'd seem less and less inclined to rip him a new one by merely being there, he found himself enjoying the novelty. He remembered all too well that night, the wariness of waiting for her to make the stellar appearance and explode as Ellie patched him up in Med Bay. The raid was suppossed to be fairly simple, yet being who they were and since apparently they had their own chapter in Murphy's law, it went completely south. Four of them were injured, they'd lost Cody and of course, he'd been shot while retrieving the body. When Max came through the door, it was nothing like he'd expected. There had been a haunted look on her face, an infinite and desperate fear as she searched frantically the room with her gaze until she found his eyes. She rushed to where he was and hugged him tightly without a word. They never spoke about that. He did his debrief, as usual, but she didn't say anything about the hug and he didn't ask. He knew then something had changed between them. Yeah, they still fought —to put it mildly— on occasions, mostly because they were Max and Alec and that made things seem unaltered, but the sharp edge she used to put to her words wasn't there anymore and he began to look closely, recognizing those aspects of her personality he once thought as weaknesses really weren't.

"Get your jacket, it's freezing out there." Max's voice startled him and he looked outside.

"Really? Doesn't seems so..." he said absently. The sun had warmed up their home and he felt the urge to stay indoors, maybe even catch a movie with Max. He hated being cold.

Yeah, sure. What's next? Cuddling on the couch?, the Mole in his head mocked.

"Yeah, northern wind bites like a bitch," Max provided while she checked her pockets for her belongings, but then she saw his smirk and regretted her poor choice of words. "Keep it in your head, Pretty Boy."

She turned and exited the room with the sound of Alec's laugh.

They reached the street and had to brace themselves. Max wasn't lying, it was really cold. She shuddered and Alec rubbed his hand against her back, trying to warm her up. She muttered a 'thanks' as he passed his arm over her shoulders and they started walking to Josh's apartment.

Max allowed the holding, leaning on the chilly weather as an excuse. She could feel the warmth of his body pressed on her side, thinking it wasn't a big deal, at least until they passed by a couple of X6's who stared at them with curious eyes. Great. More raw matter for the rumours factory.

Being two blocks away from their destination, they encountered with Syl, Zane and Jondy, who were chatting on a corner, while Kitty, Zane's german shepherd, did her morning walk.

"Yo! Love birds!" Syl shouted and Max winced at the nickname.

While they exchanged a few words, Kitty's curiosity seemed to spike up and run away, dissapearing through a corner. Zane blurred after her and they after Zane. The group of transgenics made a sharp turn to find themselves with a rather endearing yet kind of weird scene. Kitty was sitting on the middle of the street, barking with Joshua. Apparently, they were having quite the conversation. Max was the first to react. She knew Josh could do that because she had seen him do it before.

"Hey, Big Fella. Seems you got a new friend," she said and hugged the tall transhuman.

"Hey, Little Fella. Kitty and Joshua friends now," he answered, utterly pleased.

"You know her name?" Zane asked, puzzled. Joshua just grinned and nodded.

"Hey, big guy." Alec patted his friend back and Joshua smiled widely to him.

"Joshua, these are my brother and sisters, Zane, Jondy and Syl," Max introduced them and they waved at the huge dog-man. Joshua had other ideas, though.

"Ah! More family!" he exclaimed and hugged all three of them tightly.

"Oh! Wow! You got some grip, Joshua," Jondy said, brushing her upper arm. He smiled appologetically.

"We were on the way to your place, Josh. Here," Alec spoke, giving his friend the box of cookies they'd brought to him.

"Thanks, Alec," he said, smiling fondly. Those were his favourite snacks. "Come, come. Inside Joshua's home. Very cold outside."

Max nodded to her siblings and they all started walking again. Relief coursed through them when they entered to the warm room.

Joshua's place was bigger than the average on TC but it was crowded with painted and clean canvas. Some hanged over the walls but most of them were leaning altogether. The transhuman made some room, shifting the locations of some paintings.

After Annie's death, Joshua didn't have the strength to even pick up his brushes. The pain had been overwhelming, too much for him to bare. The deep sadness kept him from concentrating in anything else but his lost friend. However, his arrival to TC had increasingly cheered him up, finding other things to do and get distracted. He'd started to work with clay and soon enough, he'd teached himself to do all sorts of kitchen utilities. Having found a run down bakery with a old but usable oven had helped as well. Then, one good day, he'd found his muse again and started to paint, frantically making up for the lost time. Thanks to Alec's raids, he had all he needed to keep his business going. Now, the entire population of the Freak Nation had fully equiped kitchens and art pieces hanging in their apartments.

Max helped Joshua with the coffee and the tea for Syl —oh yeah, Max had her payback right there, now she was going to fake a british accent around her sister— while the rest of the transgenics got settled. Kitty found a comfy place near the heater and fell asleep.

"No offence, dude, but naming your dog Kitty? Seems kind of twisted," Alec joked and Zane laughed.

"Yeah, it doesn't make so much sense when you say it like that."

"You know you're gonna have Josh in your place really often now, don't you?"

"Thought so. Not that I mind, seems like a great guy," Zane commented, looking to the small kitchen where his sister was carefully listening to what the transhuman was trying to explain with a mix of words and gestures.

"He is," Alec confirmed.

"Oh, I wanted to thank you, Alec," Syl said with a sincere look on her face. "I know you gave us your apartment, although you didn't have to."

Alec drew his gaze to the brunette he shared a home with, feeling kind of awkward. Max'd told her sister about the subject, of course.

"It's nothing. Anything for Max and her family." He dismissed the subject with a gesture, missing the knowing look on Syl's face.

"I hope you guys weren't telling lies about me," Max said, trying to keep a straight face and sound dangerous. She was carrying a tray full of steemy cups with Joshua right behind her, cookie box in hand.

Josh took a seat next to Zane and offered him a snack as Max deposited the tray on the coffee table and sat beside Alec. She noticed his hazel eyes had that mischievous glint that screamed 'brewing process going on' and couldn't help wonder why was he in such good mood.

"They were just telling me what a cute little thing you were at the age of nine," Alec said with a wide grin. Her siblings chuckled.

"Oh, please. You damn well know I don't do cute," she retorted, rolling her eyes.

Jondy could bearly keep her giggles at bay. Syl was grinning like the Cheshire cat and Zane was openly laughing. Joshua couldn't decide if he should tell Max she did cute from time to time, especially with the X8's.

"C'mon, Maxie. Admit it, you were a hobbit back then," Syl provided and Alec had to laugh at the murderous look on Max's face.

"Yeah, 'cause you were so much taller than me... Even Zane was like this," she held her hand up in the air, indicating an apparently insulting height, because her brother made a sound of discontent. She winked at him and he returned the gesture.

"Well, little or not, you always carried a hell of a right hook," Jondy remembered and Zane rubbed his chin absently. Max laughed, nodding.

"I sense a story here," Alec cut in, shifting his gaze between them.

"Our little sis right here was enraged with Zack, our CO. I can't quite remember why though..." Syl made a pause, waiting for someone who could provide her with the information.

"Jack had pulled her finger by hiding her boots and Zack took out on her rather than him, spilling big words about responsibilities on our belongins and so forth..." Jondy said, shaking her head in amusement.

"Oh, right... Anyhow, Maxie was pissed as hell and Zack kept on ranting until she had enough. So, logical answer for Max: put her entire weight on her arm and aim for the CO's jaw," Syl said, making the mimics of the moves.

"No..." Alec looked at Max and she shrugged. Joshua was listening with full attention.

"Wait! It doesn't end there... Zack had sharp reflexes, but younger Zane wasn't that fast and he was standing in the wrong place. He never saw it coming. Zack moved back and Max's fist connected on Zane's face. There was some epic bruising, if I recall correctly," Jondy ended the sentence mixing the last words with chuckles.

"'Epic bruising' is the understatement of the century. A quarter of my face was black. It hurt like a bitch!" Zane said, thinking back.

"Little Fella dangerous," Joshua concluded. Zane nodded in agreement.

"Hold on, how did you got off the hook after throwing a punch to an officer?" Alec was intrigued by Max's life before his less than stellar appearance in hers. He wanted to know all he could about her and she hardly talked of the subject.

"Zack always had a soft spot for Max," Syl said, calming her mirth. Alec couldn't help to agree inside his head. More than that, Zack'd been head over heels for Max as he himself had the 'priviledge' to witness. The thought bothered him, a lot.

"I think he was just relieved it was me and not him." Zane laughed while he remembered those times when they all lived together.

After that, they turned their chat to the present, talking about TC and the negotiations with the Government, their future plans and hopes.

Max's siblings were here to stay, they'd made it clear. They wanted to help. TC's inhabitants were their people too and they'd had enough of living segregated. A life on the run is not life at all, Jondy said with a trace of sadness on her voice and Max agreed. They longed to share moments like this, being themselves without fear of what others might think about their 'heritage'; something Alec could relate to. And even though things weren't even near to perfection, they were together for the first time in what felt like forever.

Max stood up to carry the empty cups to the kitchen and get refills, having Alec's silent help. Joshua was busy showing his paintings to the rest of them. Alec could hear their muffled voices coming from the studio.

He eyed Max carefully, not trying to conceal his gaze. She was happy having her family here and that knowledge made him smile. He reckoned she deserved it.

His life hadn't been easy but he guessed for Max wasn't a joyride either, being all alone. He tried to picture himself at the age of nine on the run, after losing everything and everyone he knew. New world, new rules. Always looking over his shoulder. She hadn't endured with Psy-Ops or morning drills for those ten years, but she'd traded her prison for another. She hadn't been free and that's what she seeked so hard to be, that's why she fought with her entire will for everyone's rights. The idea felt like a slap on the face. All those times when he'd thought the 09'ers had taken the easy way out... He'd never been so wrong in his life.

Alec realised she was looking back at him, trying to figure out what was going inside his mind. If you only knew, Maxie...

He was about to say something when a loud tune pierced the calm of the kitchen.

Max flinched and extracted her phone from a pocket. She looked the display and winced at the sight of the caller's name. Logan.

It's never gonna be on my terms, is it?

She sighed deeply.

"Sorry, I've to take it. I'll be back in a few," she said apollogetically.

"Everything okay?"

Those hazel eyes stared at her, his face concerned and she wanted to say 'no', but...

"Yeah, no worries."

She took the call and muttered a 'hold on'. After throwing her jacket on and get the phone next to her ear, she glanced one last time at Alec who was still standing in the kitchen. He saw the defeat on her features as she said 'yeah, I'm here' and left the apartment.

Alec walked to the window, seeing Max on the street argue fiercely through the phone. He couldn't hear what she was saying because of the howling wind but she certainly did not seem pleased with the conversation. Her hands were all over the place, mirroring through gestures her annoyance and probably anger. Alec debated with himself, thinking on the only cause he could come up with for Max being so upset. He watched her shift her weight from one foot to another. Her shoulders were tensed and her face strained, as if she couldn't believe what she was listening.

This was the last thing Max needed, he knew that. She worked very hard and she deserved a day off. But no... As usual, the Ordinary had to do something to stick a gloomy expression on her face.

"What're we lookin' at?" Syl asked, standing beside him. "Oh, I see. Max's ranting," she self-answered.

Alec shook his head.

"She has a remarkable good reason... I'd bet you my Bandit on that," he spoke in a low voice.

"How so?" Syl appeared to be confused.

Alec thought maybe he should keep his mouth shut. He had no saying in how much of her life Max wanted to share. But then again, this was her sister and Syl had Max's trust.

"Logan," he said courtly. His lips pressed into a thin line. However, the blonde didn't loose her puzzled expression. Alec made himself clear.

"They broke up a while ago, or rather Max did. Still, the Ordinary didn't take the hint. He guilt trips her every time he can."

Syl stared at Alec, noticing the harsh tone of his voice and his clenched fists. She wanted to smile at his protective stance towards her sister but she wasn't so sure how he would take it, so she turned her gaze to the street, where Max was. She was going to have a serious talk with her baby sister and make her come clean.

Zooming his sight, Alec saw Max end the call. She stared the phone for a moment while her right hand reached her face, brushing some tears away. He felt his own anger rise. He itched for having Logan in front of him and punch him in the face, although that only would upset Max even more. Still, a guy could dream with paybacks and bloody noses. He saw Max put her phone in her pocket and without further warning, she ran away.

"What're you waitin' for? A signed invitation?" Syl's sarcasm reached his ears. "Go after her."

The woman nudged his arm, practically pushing him out of the apartment and then he was running too.

Max ran and climbed stairs with haste, reaching the top of TC's highest building feeling out of breath and not because of the exertion. The strong wind whirled around her body, tangling her hair and cooling her damped cheeks, even though she wasn't crying anymore. Maybe she'd emptied her Logan-assigned tears quota. A pained noise scaped her throat, a failed attempt to a ironic laugh. She wrapped her arms over her chest, futilely trying to shield herself from the cold.

Max'd made everything in her power to avoid this situation. At first, in the times the Siege was news through all the country, she'd tried to divide her attention between TC and Logan. Her life in those days was a sum of raids and rescue missions for astray transgenics, huge amounts of paperwork, Eyes Only assignments, plus a long line of etceteras. She felt responsible for her people but she didn't want to let Logan down either.

The adrenaline faded away eventually but the frenzy of the Freak Nation never stopped. There'd always be raids, hunted transgenics, housing problems, food shortage; and it was her job to keep up, swimming in a thick tide, fighting to stay afloat.

She'd lasted exactly two months, five days and fifteen hours before she colapsed. She remembered feeling incredibly exhausted and nauseated while she was seeing a lay out of TC's buildings. Then, all turned black. Next thing she knew, she was waking up in Med Bay —IV included— with Alec's worried face by her side, having lost an entire day of her life. Alec'd been unusually pissed off with the careless on her own health. Despite her refusal, he'd gotten an apartment for her when she was cleared by Doc.

Max'd realised then she couldn't take care of everything. Something had to give; so she'd called Logan and explained her predicament. There was no way she would abandon her people nor her responsibilities as a leader. She'd told Logan she was sorry, but she wasn't going to put Eyes Only over the survival of her race. He'd said he understood and for like three seconds, she felt relieved.

Days became weeks and her 'relationship' with Logan slowly mutated. Every time they talked was an increasing challenge. Their fewer and fewer dinners together became the perfect excuse for him to talk about missions; and as he kept asking for assistance, her answer was mostly the same: she couldn't take the risk. Sometimes the guilt won the match and she ended finding herself in an old damp closet, cursing her lack of will when it came to Logan. It never seemed enough though, because the man kept talking to her in condescenting tones, as if he knew better. He probably did in a lot of ways, but Max just couldn't shake the need to fight back. As a last method of restrain, she opted for talk less and less with him.

The passive-agressive deal went on until one day she realised they'd both changed. Logan was heading to a path she couldn't follow, she didn't want to follow. It hit her like a ton of bricks. She still loved him, but she wasnt't in love with him. That time, Logan said nothing.

Now, months later, she couldn't help to think Logan hadn't dwelt in a single word she'd spoken and that enraged her in ways she didn't believe it was possible.

Max'd known a confrontation with Logan would come sooner or later, yet she'd kept a glimmer of hope on the alternative. She thought the conversation could've gone better, but she was so angry at him she couldn't made herself to care. Logan swore he loved her, told her she was important, but never, not once in all those months he'd asked her how she felt.

Seeing him for the man he really was and not his idealized form she'd created in her head was a necessary evil. Logan wasn't a bad man. He was dedicated to his work, often becoming obssessed about it. He would switch to tunnel vision and everything but his goal dissappeared. She was no match against that. Looking beyond the denial walls of her mind stung but it was the right thing to do.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She smelt the cold in the wind and wondered if snow would come sometime this week. She also preceived his scent, so familiar to her brain by now. She felt his gaze on her back and heard him take a step foward and stop, hesitant.

Max turned for a moment and looked Alec in the eyes, seeing his concern. She wanted to speak, say something, but what? 'Hey, Alec! I just kicked Logan's ass to the curb for good. Feel like having lunch?' had a nice ring to it but he would start doubting her sanity. Words weren't her department so she just turned back and waited.

Alec'd searched for Max everywhere. Their apartment, her office, the gym. He even stopped by Med Bay. It was a long shot but better to be safe than sorry. He had to find her and make sure she was alright. Why was a dangerous question.

He wasn't the type of guy who brooded on things. If he saw something —or someone— he wanted, he got it. Plain and simple. No need to whirl around it. Nonetheless, he held this kind of acquaintance with certain female transgenic and she personified the exception to his rule.

From the moment he met Max in that grey dull cell, he'd been doomed. She was the antithesis of all he knew, even Rachel; and she kept suprising him and proving him wrong. The treacherous 09'er who wasn't a traitor after all, because she defended her people with teeth and nails. The icy unreachable woman who was one hundred percent capable of melting an iceberg with a warm smile. The insensitive bitch who secretly shed more than one tear everytime they lost one of their own.

She never gave him what he expected, so at first it had been a challenge for him. Riling Max up was one of his favourite hobbies —he wasn't planning on admitting it out loud. However, true to her fashion, trust Max to spoil your fun. So when he teased her because she'd run away and his twin had gone psycho, she named him. When he tried to kill her, she saved his life. When he wanted to shut himself, she appeared and dragged him out.

He didn't realise at the time what was actually going on. With every unexpected turn Max took, he shifted his way and followed. She had shaped him into the man he was becoming, yet he doubted she even knew it.

Sometimes, the feeling of owing her so much overwhelmed him. Still, that was not the only reason why he'd searched half of Terminal City for her. Max was so ingrained in his life he just couldn't picture it without her. Oh, yeah... That scared the shit out of him, big time. And even though he wanted to blissfuly ignore the elephant in the room, he couldn't. Just couldn't. Not anymore.

Of course she would be up there, the highest she could get. Alec suddenly doubted if she wanted him there, maybe she needed space; but when she looked at him with red-rimmed eyes and that helpless expression, he knew he had to stay.

Alec stood by Max while she scouted the light blue sky with her gaze.

"I was thinking it was a good thing you weren't in my unit back at Manticore," he said nonchalantly and her head shot at him, her eyebrows in a deep frown. He cleared his throat and explained. "Well, I was CO and seeing your slight problem with authority, I'm more than grateful you weren't my subordinate. I would've hated ending up with a rainbowy bruise covering the half of my face."

Max snorted and he grinned.

"Yeah, that would've ruined your chances with girls. Tragedy and mayhem, right?" Max commented sarcastically.

"Hey! I resent that. I'm more than a handsome face. My personality rocks," he defended with fake hurt.

"Whatever, Pretty Boy," she quipped.

They fell silent for some good ten minutes and Max thought Alec was probably breaking his personal record this time.

"It'll be okay, you know that, don't you?" Alec spoke in a deep voice without a hint of his casualness from before.

Max stared at him wondering how he could do that, change moods so suddenly. His eyes pierced hers and the breath got caught in her throat. There was something primal in the hazel, like hunger mixed with protectiveness and it made Max shudder. Alec thought she was cold.

He didn't think. He turned to face her and came closer, hugging her. She accepted and returned his warm embrace, realising how much she needed to be held like this. Leaning on him and burying her face in his chest, she inhaled, loosing herself in his scent. Alec rested his lips over her hair and kissed her softly, much alike as he'd done when she confessed him Ben's story; except this time he was carrying way more heavy feelings. He didn't want to think about it, he didn't want to put those feelings a name.

He closed his eyes and spoke again.

"I'm sorry, Max."

"Don't be. It was bound to happen."

Alec knew she was talking about her arguement with Logan, but he almost chuckled when he became aware how well the choice of words fit with his present situation.

"Crap!" Max snapped suddenly, taking herself a few inches apart from him. His eyes opened wide and looked at her, fearing some of the turmoil inside him had seeped out. "I left everyone at Joshua's without a word..." she clarified and Alec let out a breath of relief.

"I wouldn't worry, they seemed quite busy checking Josh's paintings. Besides, you know the Big Fella is a people's person. He's probably teaching Zane how to work with clay to the beat of Unchained Melody as we speak," he nudged her with a half smile and Max had to laugh. It was a lame joke, but the visuals in her mind did all the job.

Alec's smile grew wider as she chuckled and he saw an opening for his usual tease.

"I could always show you how to. What do you say, Maxie? You, me, some clay... Things could get... nasty..." he grinned in that charming way of his that drove women crazy and winked.

"You'd have to learn first, and somehow I don't think you can manage the music and Joshua's lessons," she said, pretending to dwell on the matter for a moment.

Max laughed again when saw Alec turning a bit pale.

"C'mon, Pretty Boy. We have some schematics to check."

He would've protested but she took his hand in hers and led them both out of the roof. Alec glanced at their joined hands, a full new horizon of posibilities standing in front of him in the form of a beautiful woman. So he did the obvious, he smiled.


More soon! Stay awesome!