alright due to a mistake of mine that i couldnt change, (and some major attacks from LibraDiva83) HERE is the final chapter to the Christmas story. Good grief! I hope you're satisfied Libra! I 'RE.SATISFIED!


Chapter 4

The music blared loudly, just how Max liked it. She was a tech girl – nothing pleased her more than feeling the results of the speakers reverbing through her body. Well, there was one thing she liked more. Her dark brown eyes drift over to the form of Terry, leaning against Cunningham's couch casually, talking to Tan. Though the boy's posture seemed nonchalant his face was contorted in blatant frustration as the conversation obviously turned heated. Dana shakes her head roughly, jabbing her finger in the direction of Gibson; not in offense but more so in pain. "Looks like she's not taking it too well," Chelsea notes, resting her elbow atop Max's shoulder, slouching her hips sexily and sipping from the cup in her hand.

Max sighs wearily. "It's not my problem. That's something Terry has to fix."

Chelsea smiles with a blazing cockiness. "You sure about that Maxie? I mean, you kind of are the reason they're arguing."

"Chels…"

"All I'm saying is: don't belittle yourself, don't feel bad. Dana did McGinnis wrong, we all know that. But he loves you." She winks. "You're more important than you think baby. If not, I doubt Terry would be defending you."

"Maybe," Max starts, unsure. It had been a long time since that Christmas night: three years to be exact. And it was on today, the anniversary of when they first consummated their relationship that the two found one another at Chelsea's place for a Christmas party. Cunningham had overdid herself this year. Mistletoe and garlands strewn everywhere, an actual Turkey sliced and prepared on the table with an abundance of other holiday treats. And ofcourse eggnog….laced with the finest rum. Naturally. So many of the old friends had reunited tonight: even Howard and Nelson and Blade were in attendance. It was just like the good ole times…until Dana had stepped through the threshold.

Tensions immediately flared: everyone knew that Max and Terry were a serious couple, everyone except for Tan who was surprised to see the two dancing together quite inappropriately. The first words out of Tan's mouth were as follows: "Max, that's no way to dance with childhood friends."

And Max had responded: "No, but it is the way to dance with my boyfriend of three years." Dana's face had went from shocked, to angry in a split second.

"I'm sorry? And who said it was okay for you to move onto Terry while I was away? That's a trampy move Max. I trusted you – you were my friend!"

"I don't need your damn permission to do anything Dana. If you wanted him so bad you shouldn't have dumped him!" In the end both females had to be separated by force; Max didn't appreciate Tan's attitude in the slightest and was more than ready to fix this the appropriate way: duke it out. But Terry had carried her to the other side of the room and convinced his girlfriend to let him handle it. The suggestion bothered Max in many ways. She knew how much Terry had loved Dana, and her greatest fear was that he would be sucked back into the Asian beauty's arms without a blink.

And yet Terry was holding his on against Dana and his tone raised significantly causing Max to smile. That's right. Defend her honor. Chelsea snuggles closer into Max's shoulder and coos, "Enough drama babe. Let's dance."

Maxine chuckles lightly. "I don't think you're sober enough to dance Chels. Friends don't let friends dance drunk. You might think I'm someone else and start groping on me."

Cunningham smiles mischievously. "And the problem is what now?" They laugh together before Chelsea adds defensively, "You know I'd take your side, right? Dana was wrong."

"I know Chels. Thanks." And then the girls spy Dana's shoulder stiffen briefly and Terry's eyes narrow, hand clutching to his pants pocket subconsciously. What could he have said? The ex nods her head in baffled understanding, patting Terry on the shoulder before making a move over to the other side of the room where Nelson was waiting with open arms. The jock winks at Max, an indication he'd keep the two separate for a while and the chestnut toned woman blows him a kiss.

"Ooooo! Uh oh, here he comes," Chelsea smirks.

Terry crosses the room towards Max with a broad smile, his body slightly rocking at the bass of the music that played. Max shakes her head with a laugh and moves towards him, hips swaying smoothly. Chelsea folds her arms and watches with sheer pride at the sight of her two closest friends finally realizing happiness. She was happy, relieved, and appalled as well. Who would've thought that rock-brained McGinnis and brainiac Gibson would become such a happy couple? She just hoped Terry didn't mess what was coming next up. Cunningham had went through hell preparing this Christmas party; perfection was demanded!

Max turns and Terry brings his chest into her back, bumping and grinding against her frame as Gibson raises her hands in the air and claps them. She looks over her shoulder and smiles at him. "Everything better?" she asks.

"Being here with you," he states, planting a kiss on her neck – inhaling her sweet yet somehow tangy scent: it was fruity, but held a sweet cake batter like smell – as Max closes her eyes and sighs in pleasure, "everything is stupendous." This was his drug, one sniff and he was forever intoxicated. He'd never choose rehab. If something this good was wrong for him, then McGinnis didn't want to be right. He loved her; it hadn't seemed possible for him to let his heart fall so hard for someone else and yet it did. No regrets. Max was perfect, and he felt guilty everyday for not realizing this before. Being with her made the young man want to be a better human, a better Batman. And better he was. Gotham was clean; and the company? Well, he didn't particularly like the business aspect of life. But he hadn't gone to college, and being Wayne's son meant Terry must learn the family enterprise.

"Well, that's good to know…so…what did you say to her?" Max is suddenly wheeled around, coming face to face with her longtime friend and lover. In his eyes there was a sudden fiery passion, one that surprised and nearly sent Gibson melting. The group of friends stop their dancing, the music changes to something smooth and romantic as the alumni gather around with Chelsea in the forefront – a grin so big it could break her face.

Terry narrows his brows. "Max. I love you. And…I want to love you forever. We've been together three years today – and there's never been a better time than now." He drops down on one knee, pulling out a ring case from his pocket. With his free fingers he opens the top, revealing a gorgeous 3 ½ carat diamond, surrounded by little glistening fragments. It was big, it was beautiful.

"Terrence?'" Max questions nervously.

"Maxine Gibson. You have always been my best friend, my own personal sidekick from day one. And I know that at times I never truly said it before but I really appreciated that. You were the one person I could always rely on: more than my family, my friends, even myself. Being with you has been the…well, the best fucking years of my crazy life." The others let out a cheer of approval while Chelsea scowls. The profanity was far from romantic. Only Terry could fit that in a proposal and everyone find it appropriate. Drunkards. She sips on her eggnog some more. She needed a drink.

Terry smiles. "I guess what I'm saying is: I don't want you to be my sidekick anymore. I want you to be right there beside me forever."

A devious thought erupts within Gibson's mind as she starts to ask slyly, "Right beside you? No longer your sidekick? Does this mean I can-?"

"No!" Terry cuts her off quickly with a hard expression. "Not that kind of beside me. The other kind of beside me." Max pretends her feelings are hurt, pouting out her lip while the gathered party goers are obviously confused.

"That's not fair…" she whines.

"Damnit, Max!" Terry exclaims. "Are you going to marry me or not?" Silence envelops the home, everyone practically leaning in to hear the answer that Max had not yet given.

Max gets down and kneels directly in front of Terry, wrapping her arms around his neck slowly, gazing into his icy blue eyes with a level of compassion that both had thought impossible. She caresses the side of his face, placing the tips of her fingers under his chin before gently pulling their lips together briefly. "Yes."

"Yes?" Terry asks excitedly. Max nods with a smile. "She said yes!" He pulls her body into his own and Max throws her legs around his waist, Terry leaping up. "She said YES!" he repeats in exuberance. Max laughs and Chelsea jumps in, crashing into the both of them. But McGinnis was stronger than he'd been before, balancing the two females was of no concern.

"I call Maid of Honor!" Chelsea screams. With a kiss on each of their cheeks she leaps down again, demanding to bring out the good stuff: the alcohol she'd managed to succeed in not touching all night. This was a celebration! Max kisses Terry again. She would finally have her happy ever after – and with her best friend; the man she loved – her future husband: Terrence McGinnis-Wayne, soon to be head over Wayne-Powers and more importantly the Dark Knight. Batman. But it didn't matter who he was or what he did. He was hero enough for her. And she loved him unconditionally; forever.

The end…