(Ch 4)

Terry woke up, breathing heavy as his eyes turned towards the rising sun. He looked towards the clock, got up, and dressed for the day. He went on his morning patrol, perching over the side of a building. A smile came to his lips. Today was a good day. He could feel it.

When patrol was over, he called Dana, telling her to meet him at the Gotham City Park. He hung up and felt nervous about what he was about to do, but he knew it was for the waited for Dana in the clear, lush grass of the park. He sighed as he felt a hand on his shoulder.

He turned to see Dana smiling at him.

"Hey Terry, you look good."

They sat down and faced each other. She took his hands in hers and waited for him to speak. "Dana, we can't be together anymore. I'm sorry." He felt her hands slip from his as she stood up. He stood with her.

"Well I can't say I'm too surpised. We always—

"I know, and it's not healthy for both of us Dana. We can't keep getting back together and breaking up. It's time to go our separate ways."

"There's someone else isn't there?"

"You deserve someone better Dana. Someone who can give their whole self to you, and I know now that I'll never be that person you want me to be."

"I guess you're right Terry, and I'm sorry I cheated on you. You're a great guy Terry. Any girl would be lucky to have you."

"Thanks Dana."

"Have a good life Terry."

"You to."

He watched her walk away. It was the end of their tumultuous relationship. A smile came to his lips, but it was the start to a whole new adventure for him. He didn't know what lied ahead but whatever it was, he knew he could face it.

The hospital came into view as he came in with a greasy burger Max had wanted. He managed to sneak it passed security. As he turned the corner to another hallway, he saw his mother, Matt, and Bruce waiting. His heart suddenly began to race faster than it ever had before.

Bruce saw the worried look in Terry's eyes. "She's fine Terry. We just wanted to see her."

He let out a breath of relief. He saw Bruce smile at him. "What?"

"You were scared there for a moment. Weren't you?"

Alyssa and Brandon came into the hall. They smiled, realizing how many people were here to see her sister. "Apparently my sister is popular. Well she's awake so we all can go in and see her." She noticed Terry wasn't moving an inch. "Terry, is something wrong?"

"No, why would you say that?"

"Something happened didn't it?"

"What do you know?" He smiled jokingly.

"Max had a pretty hard night Terry. Nightmares but she won't talk to me about it."

"Don't worry I'll get it out of her."

"I'm sure you will." She smiled and then realized something. "You were always the one who was able to get through to her even when she put up her walls."

Footsteps headed their way, and they turned to see Alyssa's parents. Terry had an overwhelming feeling to tell them off for leaving Max alone all these years, but he restrained himself. Being Batman had taught him that, great restraint.

"You're angry. Aren't you McGinnis?"

"I need some air." He handed the bag in his hands to Alyssa. "Can you give this to her?" She nodded. He walked away. She looked in the bag and smiled. Max's favorite.

The cool, fall air didn't help his sadness for his best friend. He knew very well what it was like to lose a parent and although her parents were alive and well, it was as if they were dead to Max. She had lost them the moment they left her for the world.

His hands dug deeper into his pocket as he heard a pair of rushed footsteps in his direction. Terry turned around very surprised to see an out of breath Max before him in only her hospital gown. She was holding the back to prevent it from opening.

"Max! What are you-? It's freezing out here and—

"I don't care about that McGinnis." She felt his jacket on her, and she watched as he zipped it up. "Thanks Terry." She smiled, leaning over the railing. Butterflies filled up her stomach, knowing what she was about to ask could change everything. "So, are you ok?"

"Yeah, I think I finally broke the cycle with Dana. It's over for good."

"How do you know?" Her voice came out curious.

He had no doubts about his decision. "It's just a feeling I have." He smiled.

She looked at his smile, and it seemed different from it had before. It was more freeing and genuine like a weight was off his shoulders. "I'm sorry your relationship with Dana ended the way it did, and you two didn't work out."

"It's my fault. On some level I cared about her and at the same time I didn't want to be alone. It wasn't fair to her, and she deserves better."

"And so do you McGinnis. You problem is you never thought you were good enough for Dana or the other women you dated."

"You know me so well."

"It comes with being your best friend Terry."

A cold wind-swept by, and Max shivered. "Come on Max let's get you back inside before you freeze." He put an arm around her as she moved into him.

"Well aren't you the hero." She smiled as he laughed. Suddenly she felt something on her torso. Her hand went to the spot to discover blood. "Oh no my stitches are coming out." She was starting to feel a little dizzy as her head leaned on his chest.

"Max, Max!"

"Re—relax McGinnis it's just—She felt herself being lifted in his arms and carried back inside the hospital.

When she woke up, the first thing she saw were her parent's worried eyes. "Oh Maxine what were you thinking going after that boy?" asked her mother.

"He's my friend mom. I am. God forbid you should ever feel that way for me."

"Maxine you do not talk to your mother that way."

"Well maybe if you would have stuck around, you could have taught me some respect." She sat up, swung her legs over the edge of the bed, and stood up.

"What are you doing?" asked her father.

"I'm getting out of here. I all ready signed my release papers."

Max walked out into the hall in the clothes she came to the hospital in. She knew her parents wouldn't be coming after her. She turned the corner to see her surprised sister and Brandon. "I just knew you'd try something Max."

"I just want to go home and sleep in my bed."

"Come on I'll drive you home." She saw a look in her sister's eyes.

"Mom and dad?" Max nodded.

"You need anything Max?" asked Alyssa, who helped her into bed.

"Just some sleep. Thanks Alyssa."

Alyssa made her way into the living room to see her fiancée on the phone. When he hung up, he smiled at her, pecking her on the cheek. "How's Max."

"Sleeping."

"You think she'd be up to meeting my parents tomorrow at dinner."

"I'll ask her Brandon, but I don't know. I mean obviously my parents are going to be there, and I don't think she's really too excited to spend some time with them."

"What happened? I mean I know your parents left you and Max when you were young for travel."

"Well it started when Max and I were kids. They came and went, bringing us back souvenirs from their explorations. Then one day when Max was 12 and I was 15, we got an email from them that they would be away longer than they expected. Eventually they sent us a long email explaining fully how they weren't coming back and how sorry they were for leaving."

"Wow! That's cold."

"I know. Max took it pretty hard. She wouldn't come out of her for days. She was crying hard for most of the time and then silence.

Brandon could tell Alyssa was about to cry, so he took her in his arms. He kissed her on the forehead as she looked up at him. She kissed him on the lips and then pulled away. They looked deeply into each other's eyes and started making out on the couch.

Max had woken up to find herself hungry, so she came out of her room to see her sister and Brandon asleep on the couch with a blanket, covering their naked bodies. "Oh my god!" She turned away as the couple stood up, wrapping the blankets around her.

"Sorry Max we didn't mean to—," said Alyssa as Brandon went to the bathroom to get dressed.

"Have sex on the couch."

"He was comforting me. We were talking about mom and dad leaving when we were young, and I got emotional. He was there for me Max. I love him, and I can't wait to marry him."

"That's really great Alyssa. Just try to have sex in a more private place."

"I promise." She hugged her and joined Brandon in the bathroom. She suddenly heard moans coming from the bathroom. She stood in front of the door. "Don't' even think about it Alyssa."