A/N: So, we've reached the final chapter. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing! And I'd also like to thank my beta, happycabbage75. I should have done it before now, but thanks so much for all your help!

Chapter 10

"There are many things that I would like to say to you,
But I don't know how,
Because maybe,
You're gonna be the one that saves me."

- Oasis, Wonderwall

Alec hadn't planned on actually talking to Rachel. He'd just wanted to make sure she was okay after the crisis last night. He still had half a mind to break in and teach Berrisford a lesson, but he knew it was unnecessary. He had warned Berrisford to stay away from Max, and he doubted the man would try anything like that again. The failure of his first plan along with the disgust and lack of respect from his daughter were probably too much for Robert Berrisford to handle.

Alec's only goal had been to catch a glimpse of Rachel to make sure she was really alive and well. Then he would sneak back to the shadows and never bother her again.

Things didn't go as planned, however, when he saw Rachel waiting outside the front gate, surrounded by luggage. She was sitting on one of the sturdier suitcases, and Alec was so startled that he moved from his hiding place to greet her.

"Going somewhere?" he asked, puzzled. She jumped slightly in surprise and then smiled at him.

"As a matter of fact, I am," she said, her voice light. He was quickly realizing that, although her appearance had changed in many ways, her personality was still as optimistic as ever. She was perhaps wiser and less carefree, but at heart she was still the same. "I'm moving to my aunt's house in New York."

Alec felt part of him wrench at the thought, but another part felt guiltily pleased that she was moving so far away. He couldn't ever resume things with her, not after all that had happened between them. She didn't seem to expect it, but he was still glad that distance would make it impossible.

He didn't need to guess the reason for the move, either. "Have you talked to him about it?" Alec asked.

Rachel's eyes became shadowed, and she glanced down at her linked hands. "No. I've barely spoken to him at all." She looked back up at him, and he was saddened to see such turmoil in her eyes. Despite the fact that it was Berrisford's actions distressing her, Alec was still tied to the reason she was upset. Even now he was making her unhappy. "He says he wasn't going to go through with it. He says he was looking down at… at your friend, and thinking he couldn't do it when we walked in. But how can I be sure of that?"

"You can't," Alec answered. Some people preferred lies, Alec knew, but he wouldn't do that to her again. After so much lying, Rachel deserved honesty from him. "You'll never know if he's telling the truth."

He was going to stop there, because he felt absolutely no inclination to defend Berrisford. And yet, the man adored his daughter, and it seemed sad that he was going to lose her. Alec couldn't say he wished it another way, but he might feel the vaguest stirrings of pity under all the fury.

"He loves you, though," Alec added, without really meaning to. "And love can make people do crazy things."

She looked up at him, shielding her eyes against the rare Seattle sunlight. "Not that crazy, Si—Alec. It is Alec, isn't it?"

He was momentarily taken aback by the sound of his new name on her lips. It was like the past and the present, which were previously unmixable, had suddenly merged together. Then he nodded slowly. "Yeah, it's Alec. And if you think about it, I abandoned everything I believed in to save you. And I nearly killed your father when I saw what he was doing to Max. I'd say those are pretty crazy things."

She smiled slightly, and he once again caught a glimpse of the Rachel she used to be. "Does that mean you love her?"

Alec's jaw dropped before he had time to control his reaction. Had he really just said that? He was usually so careful with his words. "I… I do, but not the way you're thinking," he amended hurriedly, but her eyes didn't lose their happy sparkle. "We're friends," he insisted.

Rachel didn't push. "Okay," she said, but that knowing smile stayed planted on her lips.

They lapsed into silence, and it was more comfortable than he would have expected. By all rights, she should have hated him. He was positive anyone else would, but Rachel had always been different.

"I'm going to be okay, Alec," she said after awhile, and he decided he liked it when she said his name. It was strange that a moniker given to him by Max could become so permanent, but somehow it had. He felt like Alec.

"Really?" he asked, unable to keep the hope out of his voice. If she was okay, then maybe he would be, too.

"Yeah," she said, smiling sincerely at him. "I don't mind my scars anymore. They're a part of me now."

He didn't say anything, but the look on his face must have said enough, because she added, "I mean it. Sometimes… sometimes terrible things happen, and you have a choice. You can either waste all your time mourning the life you lost, or you can make a new one." She waited until he met her eyes, and then she said, "I made a new one, and I'm going to live it. Scars included."

Alec didn't say anything for a long time, caught up in her words. Then he finally cleared his throat and said a little gruffly, "Just be happy, okay?"

She nodded slowly, her eyes open and compassionate. "You too, Alec. I mean it. If you find something that makes you happy, don't let it go."

He thought there might be a deeper message in her words, but he was afraid to look farther into them. Instead he nodded and held out his hand to her. "Take care, Rachel."

She stood up and hugged him, catching his outstretched hand between them. He stayed completely still for a moment and then hugged her back. She was smiling when she pulled away. "You too, Alec."

"Look who it is."

Max glanced up from the cracked tabletop to see Alec striding across Crash. O.C. was the one who'd pointed him out, and Sketchy perked up next to Max, obviously happy to see his friend.

"Been awhile, dude," Sketchy said warmly when Alec finally joined them. He patted Alec on the back and then grabbed the empty pitcher from the table. "This calls for another round of beer, my treat."

"Thanks, Sketch," Alec said, smiling as he slapped Sketchy's shoulder. Max eyed him suspiciously, but she didn't find any deception in his face or posture. Perhaps he really was better.

She had to be sure. "Alec, can I talk to you for a second?"

He eyed her warily and then shot O.C. a look. Cindy shook her head, obviously indicating that she had no idea what Max wanted to discuss. Alec sighed, presumably resigning himself to going into a discussion with Max blind, and he let her lead him off to a quieter section of Crash.

"Haven't seen you around lately," Max said immediately, and then winced when she realized how accusing that sounded. This treating-Alec-differently thing was going to be more difficult than she'd thought.

His eyes were guarded as he considered her. "Been busy."

"Right," she said, and there was a slight pause as she thought of what she wanted to say. Then she threw caution to the wind and bulldozed headfirst into the issue. "You're not going to be picking anymore bar fights, are you?"

His eyes were still cautious, but he smiled a little. "No. Two-bit jerks are forever safe from me."

"Well, good," Max said, slightly awkwardly. Then she sighed and tried to let go of the tension thrumming through her. "Look, you're alright, aren't you?"

His smile turned into a full grin then, and his eyes creased at the corners. "I'm always alright."

She stared at him, unsure of his answer. It seemed genuine, but she also knew it was a lie. He might be alright in this instance, but he certainly had other issues. Maybe those could wait, though. Maybe they could deal with them together one day.

"Guess we really put on a good act, huh?" Max asked, returning his smile just slightly. His eyes registered faint confusion, and she added, "At the party. Berrisford really thought we were in love."

She wasn't sure why she had said it, and now she wished she could take it back. Mentioning Berrisford wasn't the problem. Alec seemed to be recovering from his agony over that situation.

Instead, speaking aloud the thought behind Berriford's plan seemed to put something out in the air between them. She wasn't quite sure what, but she felt as if some elusive opportunity floated in the distance that separated them, and if they reached out maybe they could grasp it. And maybe it would make them happy, happier than either of them had been in a long time. Or maybe it would make them miserable, and add another set of scars to their already impressive collections.

She could tell Alec felt it, too, by the quizzical look in his eyes and the slight set of his jaw. He even looked like he might be having the same thoughts as her.

He was the one to pull back first. "Yeah, we did. Kind of hard to believe, considering we're usually at each other's throats."

Max also retreated, because in the end, neither of them needed more scars. "Exactly. But everything worked out in the end, so it doesn't really matter."

"Yeah," Alec said, not quite meeting her eyes as he said it. Then he looked up suddenly, and she was surprised by the sudden intensity in his gaze. "I just wanted to say, though, that I'm sorry. About Ben. I know I wasn't really in the mood to listen when you told me, but I've been thinking about it a lot lately."

Her throat threatened to close, but she kept her emotions buried carefully under the surface. "You have?"

"Yeah," he said again, fidgeting with the sleeve of his shirt. "I figure it's why you tried so hard to help me, right? Because you couldn't help him."

For some reason, Max hated the way he said it. It was true to an extent, but she had a feeling he believed it was her sole purpose for wanting to save him. And that wasn't true. But how could she tell him without having to admit that she was attached to him? It was one thing to be civil and even friendly. It was another to be open. "I…."

"Hey, Max, it's okay," Alec said, sending her a grin that looked all too effortless. "You and Ben had a history, and you cared about him. I get it."

"Yeah, but—"

"Seriously, don't worry about it."

"Stop interrupting me!" she growled finally, tossing her hands up in frustration. He looked surprised, but finally stayed silent. "What I've been trying to say," she began, still glaring at him threateningly in case he decided to speak again, "is that it's true. Ben's part of the reason I wanted to help you."

His expression didn't change, but she saw the disappointment flash briefly into his eyes. Damn, she was really going to have to say this, wasn't she?

"But he's not the only reason," Max said finally, breathing a resigned sigh. "I… you've grown on me, okay?"

His eyes lit up, and she knew by the curve of his mouth that he was going to start laughing soon.

"Like a fungus," she clarified hurriedly, raising her voice in effort to make her words reach him. "Or a mold. A genetically modified, indestructible, completely reliant mold."

"Admit it, Maxie," Alec said, his features set into an openly smug expression. "You like me."

"I do not!" she argued vehemently, trying to look affronted by the very idea.

"Yeah, whatever. Deny it all you want, but I know the truth." His laughing eyes stayed on her for a moment more and then moved away, tracking something behind her. "Sketchy's got more beer. Want to go back?"

She hesitated for a moment because, as strange as it was, she didn't. She wanted to stay here with him in relative privacy. Then she shook off the bizarre feeling and nodded her head. "Sure."

He started walking first, and she followed along after him.

"Hey, Alec?" she called, and he stopped and looked at her questioningly.

"You so owe me another undercover mission."

Alec grinned and rolled his eyes, turning away from her again. But her sensitive ears caught his chuckle and good-natured, "Whatever you say, Max."

The End

A/N: Thanks again for tuning in! Hope you've enjoyed the ride!