OK, I've been kind of a jerk the last few chapters. I shall endeavor to fix that now. So I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has followed/favorited this story thus far. Also thank you to those that reviewed! Also, apologies for how long this chapter took me to get up. I've been quite busy the last couple of weeks so I haven't had a lot of time on my hands. I shall try to be a bit more consistent with updates from now on, but i make no promises. In any case, onwards with the story, and I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

After about an hour Ryan came up to get both of the girls for dinner. They then got into Ryan's car and made their way to the local diner they always visited. It didn't compare to Two Whales but the food was still good for what it was. They talked about school, how they both were keeping their grades up, some of the fun they'd had together. All things a normal family would talk about. Max's parents didn't miss all the quick glances or the fact that the girls were holding hands under the table. On the ride home they caught them cuddling in the back seat.

"Uh Mom, Dad, we uh...we need to tell you something." Max said trying not to look overly embarrassed.

"Don't worry about it, honey. We know already." Ryan said.

"Wha...? But I don't...how?!" Max asked, clearly flustered. Chloe put a hand on her shoulder to try to calm her down.

"Max, we see the way you two look at each other. Also, you both aren't as subtle as you think. We knew you were holding hands at the diner, and we saw you cuddling in the car on the way home. Of course we knew. And before you start protesting, you don't have to worry. We're both OK with it, your father and I, and we're not going to change any sleeping arrangements. We trust you both, and all we ask is that if and when you decide to...you know, at least try to keep it down. We just want you to be happy, and we know Chloe makes you happier than you would have been if you'd moved here with us. We won't take that away if that is what you both want." Vanessa said, giving her daughter a hug as Chloe stepped back and made a point of checking her phone for messages, send Joyce a quick "we're safe" text, and also to give them a moment.

"Thanks Mom. And yes, I am happy, and this is what we want." Max said, extricating herself from her mother's grasp as Chloe put her phone away and came back over to them.

"Ditto on that." Chloe said as she draped an arm around Max's waist, causing Max to blush. After a few moments, Max's parents decided to read in the common room, while Chloe and Max decided to watch a movie on Max's computer.

"I already know the answer to this, but what movie?" Max asked as she opened up a binder sized case that had at least 30 neatly sleeved DVD's in it and went in search of the movie she knew Chloe was going to pick, then pulled it out before she could answer the question.

"Your powers of mind reading must be pretty strong then, because that's exactly the movie I was going to pick." Chloe said, giving her girlfriend a playful smirk as she held the DVD for Blade Runner in front of her.

"I don't need mind reading powers, you pick this movie often enough that I just know when you'll pick it now. And it's not just that. I know you, Chloe. We've been with each other basically since birth. We've almost never been apart more than a couple of days, and we almost always took the other when we went on vacations. We watch the same movies, play the same games, have pretty much the same interests. I've always been there for you when you needed me, and you're always there for me too. I mean...you know I love you, right?" Max asked.

"Of course I know. You know I do. Where's this all coming from?" Chloe asked, suddenly very concerned by Max's change in mood.

"I don't know. I just...I wanted you to know, OK? I know you know how I feel, but I just feel like I need to keep saying it, or it'll stop being real or something." Max told her, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

"Max I...Come here." Chloe said, and Max put the DVD down and went over to sit next to Chloe on the bed, who then proceeded to wrap her arms around her.

"I'm sorry. It's just...you remember that nightmare I had a while ago about the town getting destroyed right? I kind of had it again last night. I should have told you, but I didn't want to worry you and I just..." Max started but was stopped when Chloe put a finger on her lips.

"You don't need to explain yourself to me. I knew you had a nightmare, and I knew it was probably the same one. I didn't ask partly because I knew you would tell me when you were ready, and because I didn't want to push you before you were. And you know that was only a nightmare. Nothing like that is going to happen. The town is fine, and I'm here with you. I'm never leaving you. I love you, Max." Chloe said, still holding her in her arms. They stayed like that for a few moments before Max decided to get up and go put the DVD on. Except only to be stopped by Chloe dragging her back down to her previous position before she could even take two steps.

"I know this is gonna sound weird, but I suddenly don't feel like watching a movie tonight." Chloe said, who was still worried for the girl who was once again sitting next to her on the bed.

"What, you want to go to sleep already? It isn't even 10 yet. We never go to bed this early, Che." Max said as Chloe reached over and pulled a binder out of her own bag. It took Max all of two seconds to realize what it was; a photo album. Or more specifically, their private photo album, the one they kept for themselves, never showing it to anyone. She looked at her, surprised that Chloe had brought it with them without her knowing.

"It's been a long time since we did anything with this." Chloe said, placing the album between them so they could both see it without having to move too much.

"Chloe, we just put new pictures in it this morning." Max said with a puzzling expression, wondering what her girlfriend was getting at.

"That's not what I meant. I mean it's been a long time since we just sat and looked at all the pictures in here together. I wanted to wait a couple of days, but after everything we just talked about...I just want to look at all our old pictures. I want to remember how things were, how they still are for us." Chloe said, and draped an arm around Max's waist as she opened the album. They spent a good two hours looking through it, reminiscing about every picture, some of which bringing up old memories one or both of them had forgotten about. Finally, Chloe closed the album and placed it back in her bag. Max then suddenly hugged her, slamming her lips into Chloes. After a moment, she broke away from her girlfriend, giving her a look Chloe didn't recognize at first, but after a moment understood exactly what max was telling her.

"Chloe, what I feel for you, it's beyond what words can describe." Max said, as she began to pull Chloe's clothes off slowly, but Chloe raised a hand to stop her, not sure if either of them were ready for what they were about to do. Chloe knew she was ready, but she didn't want to do anything if Max wasn't.

"Are you sure? We don't have to if you aren't ready." Chloe said.

"I am ready. I've been ready for a while now. Let me show you how much I love you, Che." Max said. She continued to undress her girlfriend, and this time Chloe didn't stop her.