Author's Note: All right! So, this is the end of this story! I figured I'd end this on a good note and give an explanation as to why Lily and Max get along so well. I hope you enjoyed it! Thank you for reading!

Tonight was different. Lily could tell something was on Max's mind. He had already been cooking dinner once she got home from work. Since admitting their feelings for each other and promising him another way to cope with his grandfather's abuse, Lily had given him a key to her apartment.

Sure, he was the landlord and already had a key regardless, it was the thought behind it that counted.

"Max?" Lily set her equipment at the corner of her bedroom. She removed her shoes and walked to the kitchen, seeing Max stir the contents in the pot. It smelled like pasta.

"Oh, hi. I didn't hear you come in."

Lily arched a brow. It had only been a few times where Max would be too deep in thought to realize what was going on around him.

Slowly, Lily approached him and hesitantly wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. She let her cheek rest against the back of his shoulder, shutting her eyes and inhaling his scent.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Lily asked.

Max sighed, turning the stove off before he turned around to look down at her. He found so much comfort with her so near. He couldn't believe that he used to live a life behind the walls. Lily had shown him a better way to live, to cope with his problems. Sure, there were a few instances where he wanted to resort to the walls, but he refrained.

He would shut his eyes and think about Lily; about her smile, her laugh, and about the love they both shared.

He loved her and she loved him.

"Maybe after dinner. Is that okay?" Max replied.

Lily nodded. She learned that pushing him to talk wouldn't work. So, instead, she leaned up on her toes to peck his lips. When she pulled away, Max smiled.

"Thank you for dinner, Max."

The entire dinner was quiet. Max was staring at his plate, obviously bothered by something that happened today. Lily wanted to know, but she would allow him to talk to her when he was ready. Occasionally, Lily would rest a hand on his own and steal a quick kiss.

It was the brief smile that he flashed her that made Lily feel like despite the troubles in his mind, she managed to quiet his thoughts for a small moment.

After dinner, Lily was cleaning the dirty dishes while Max was lying in bed. He was staring up at the ceiling with a hand behind his head. He was dressed in a white v-neck and boxers.

They never talked about moving in, but it was moot point. Max owned the building.

Once Lily finished, she walked to her bedroom. Usually, Max would lift his head to look at her, but not tonight. It was as if he was stuck in his own mind.

Lily sighed, walking to the bathroom to freshen up. She let the door close halfway and began to undress from her clothes. Max cleared his throat, looking over at the door and catching a glimpse of a naked Lily.

He shook his head. He didn't need to spy. Despite not being behind the walls, Max felt trapped. He was watching her through the small crack of the door, catching glimpses of her bare body. When Lily walked out of the bathroom with her hair up into a messy bun and completely naked, Max felt like he was caught.

He was spying on her.

"Lily?"

She turned around, slipping on a clean pair of panties and grabbing one of his shirts that he had left here.

"Hm?" Lily asked, sliding the large shirt over herself to cover her body.

He sighed, shaking his head and murmuring a simple, "Nothing."

Lily climbed into bed, letting her arm drape over his waist as her head rested against his shoulder. "I love you, Max."

He looked down at her. Max needed to tell her. She had to know before this relationship could go any further.

"I love you too, Lily."

"What's going on? You're acting… Distant. Is everything okay?"

Max sighed, sitting up and turning on the lamp near the bedside. Lily followed suit, reaching over to take his hand in his once she noticed that it was slightly shaking.

"Today's my parents' death anniversary. August was… He wasn't very nice today."

"Oh, Max… Why didn't you tell me? I could have stayed home with you."

Max bit his lower lip, his eyes deviating to their linked hands. He couldn't believe that there was someone out there who was willing to drop everything for him. It was too good to be true. Lily could have had any man she wanted, yet she chose him.

"You need to know how my parents died, Lily."

She furrowed a brow. "Okay… I'm all ears. I'm ready to listen."

Max looked into her eyes for a moment before dropping his gaze to the bed.

"My – My dad murdered my mom. Then he turned the gun on himself. I just – August was my mom's dad. He compared me to my father today. Saying that I'm going to do the same thing when I find out that you finally realize you deserve better. I would never hurt you... Lily, you need to understand that."

Lily felt tears brim her eyes. She couldn't imagine living a life like Max's.

"Hey… You won't hurt me, Max. August is trying to get under your skin. We've talked about this before, remember? It's just you and me. I don't want better. I want you. I will always want you."

Max shook his head, "But why? I'm nothing. I'm weak. I'm not a man."

Lily sighed, gently cupping his cheek. "Look at me. Max, please."

Slowly, he lifted his eyes to meet her own. For once, Max realized that Lily was hiding something too.

"I was tossed around from foster home to foster home. I don't know who my parents are. I was ten when I realized when my birthday was. I was placed into the care of this particular foster care until I was old enough to leave." Lily maintained eye contact. Max could tell that what she was about to say was going to hurt her.

"Lily… What is it?"

"I never knew what love felt like, Max. My foster parents… They only had me because they were being paid to. I was told to stay in my room the entire day unless I had school. Food would be brought up to me. The only interaction I had were with people at school and even then, I always had trouble. When I found a camera, it was my way of expressing my thoughts. It was my own way of interacting with other people."

Max tightened his jaw. He felt anger. He couldn't imagine someone mistreating Lily.

"The reason I didn't get angry with you when I found out about you spying on me was because I understood. I would look into the viewfinder of my camera and spy on people too, maybe not to your extent, but I needed an escape. I needed something to give me hope that I could live a life like the other people I have taken pictures of." Lily finally dropped her eyes, looking down at their hands. She felt Max squeeze them.

"August reminded me of my foster mother. She always told me no one would love me. That's why I was always jumped from foster care to foster care. I didn't understand. The first photograph I ever took was a couple from across the street who were having sex. It wasn't the act that got me excited, but the fact that two people can be so much in love."

Max finally understood. Lily was exactly like him, except she took her talent and used it for something good while he didn't.

"I can't say I understand what you went through with your parents' death, Max, but I want you to know that you're not alone. I will always be here. You don't have to shut down when I'm here."

Max leaned in, kissing her forehead. Slowly, he lied down and brought her with him. He reached over to turn the light off.

Surrounded in darkness, Max held her close. This was the woman that he was going to be with forever. If August didn't like it, then so be it.

It was time Max took a stand.

"And I will always be here, Lily."

"I love you, Max."

"I love you too, Lily. Thank you for taking me out of those walls."