Caroline liked Max. It's wasn't something she really thought about. She's never really been one for introspection. She would rather do things than thinking about why she does them.

Which was why she made Max an Ira, bought her a ton of savings bonds, and was now buying a cupcake shop in her name.

Max's hidden talent for baking was a pleasant surprise. Far superior to the inability to swim she'd sprung on Caroline. They had spent the rest of their vacation in the hotels heated indoor swimming pool teaching Max to doggy paddle and Caroline still couldn't quite believe she had fun.

But the thing is, hanging out with Max was always fun.

There was none of the pressure from hanging out with her rich friends, and oddly none of the kissing up she was used to from those of a lower social standing. There was just Max, the girl that demanded cash for saving Caroline's ass. She's not all that sure why she liked that.

Max was just, Max. Inexplicably.

Caroline wanted every good thing in the world for her.

Her own business, her own home, her own revolving shoe rack and highly specialized bath tub. But from what she'd seen of her, Max wouldn't just take her money. It's one thing when they're hanging out and Caroline covers the bills because she's rich, it's another thing when Caroline just tries to hand her money. Max always turns it down.

She'd laughed in her face when Caroline tried to give her a few hundred to get home from the airport and told her that she could take the train just like everyone else and didn't need a limo. For some reason Max seemed to be under the impression that money was something she always had to earn.

It was oddly frustrating, and Caroline knew that they are going to argue a lot over whether or not Caroline can just 'give' Max the place.

But Max lived in a crappy apartment she can't possibly afford on a waitress's salary. And while Caroline has never been to her work place she's fairly certain the neighborhood alone means it's subpar. So she had to try, Max deserved better, and what's more, better is something Caroline can provide. It just made sense, Max should just take what she wanted to give.

But she wouldn't.

Stupid poor people pride.

X

Caroline had been right about the diner. Max's place of employment was unacceptable.

Just stepping into the place made Caroline feel skeevy. The decorations were not only cheap, but also remarkably filthy. And the people did not even bear thinking about. Caroline would have to spend an hour in her tub to even start feeling clean again, and she was so sending her outfit to be dry cleaned within an inch of it's life.

Caroline took a deep breath and gathered her resolve as she stepped inside. She was doing this for Max after all. Let it never be said that Caroline Channing couldn't put her friends first. Spotting the girl in question by the order window, Caroline made a beeline towards Max. Sacrifice was still sacrifice after all, and the less time she spent in the horrible diner the better.

"What are you doing here?" Max questioned, eyebrows raised.

"I have a surprise for you-" Caroline began, only to trail off as she registered a familiar noise coming from the kitchen. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the order window.

"Caroline?" Max, prompted, "You okay?"

"Are they fucking back there?" Caroline hissed, outraged. That was beyond disgusting. There weren't even words for what that was. Not to mention one hell of a health code violation.

Max just looked behind her and shrugged."They do that sometimes. I bet she expects me to cover her customers too. That bitch."

"I need to get you out of here." Caroline mumbled, shocked and horrified by equal measure.

"What?" Maxed asked, fortunately not having heard her slip. Then Caroline had a brain wave.

"Do you like working here?" She asked Max.

Max made a face at her, "I've had worse waitressing gigs, but you know. Pays the bills, some of them anyway. We can't all be rich heiresses."

"Well I recently bought this cupcake place. I need some workers, and nepotism is a wonderful thing."

"So you'll hire me? Just like that? No work history or whatever?" Max frowned, "That doesn't seem like you."

"Well I've had your cupcakes," Caroline hedged, wondering briefly when Max had taken notice of her perfectionist tendencies."I'll pay you two wages if you make the cupcakes as well. The usual for a backer plus minimum wage for a cashier."

"That sounds amazing." Max said, chewing on her lip, "Okay. What's the catch?"

Caroline smirked, "You have to quit this place and never come back."

Max grinned, "No really. What's the catch?"

Caroline beamed back. She would use the excess funds the shop generated to renovate the upstairs rooms of the building and turn it into a decent apartment. Then she could hand Max both a successful business and some decent real estate in one fell swoop. Caroline loved efficiency.

Then a scruffy looking fry cook who had no doubt just been having sex with the other waitress popped his head out of the order window, leered at her and said, "Hey Max, who's your friend?"

X

Ah Oleg, sorry guys I've got major roadblock with this fic and this was all I could squeeze out