Sitting quietly in the white room, Chloe idly ran her fingers over the edge of her plastic cup. Occasionally she brought it up to her lips to take a drink of the water, ignoring the jangling of the stainless steel cuffs on her wrists that had been there for a few hours already. Pissed off, she slammed the cup back down and crushed it, throwing the remainder behind her.

Eventually the door in one corner opened and Matt Avery stepped inside, a folder in his hand. Giving Chloe a smirk, he shut the door behind himself and approached - throwing the folder down on the table.

Spinning his chair around, her sat down as he began speaking, "Chloe Elizabeth Price. Age: 27, Born in Arcadia General Hospital, daughter to Joyce Price and one WIlliam Price."

"You read my police file, well done - do you want a fucking clap?" Chloe spoke calmly but with obvious venom.

"You've got an interesting record," he continued and opened up the folder - coughing loudly to get her attention. "Wow, would you look at that? Arrested for indecent exposure, dropped from gross indecency, in 2013 alongside one Maxine Caulfield-"

"Shut the fuck up," Chloe stood up violently, getting yanked back down by the short chain attached to her cuffs.

Avery chuckled and merely continued. "2014 for evading arrest, multiple counts of illegal shortcuts, coupled with careless driving and an assault charge that was withdrawn within days of being pressed." Turning the page, he coughed again. "More recently in 2020, once again attempting to evade arrest and possession of marijuana."

"Alright, cool, you know my past crimes - what the fuck am I doing here?" Chloe asked and placed her hand flat on the table.

"Do you own a licensed firearm?" Avery looked up at her as he lowered the folder slightly. "If so then please state the model and serial if you can remember."

"SiG Sauer P226, I don't know the serial," she muttered and met his gaze the entire time. "It's in my house in Arcadia right now, feel free to break in and check yourself."

"No need, I've got the serial right here," he smirked and turned the folder slightly, revealing her weapon permit. "We keep note of all legally obtained firearms, was just testing if you'd say the truth."

Chloe kept silent as she looked at Avery.

"What else… ah, yes," he smiled and cleared his throat. "Vice-President of the Valkyries Motorcycle Club. Based in Arcadia Bay, the club is suspected to be involved with numerous illegal operations including but not limited to… Oh, right, I can't tell you that. Federal casefile, sorry."

"Funny."

"Very," he chuckled and dropped the folder onto the table. "Now, I'd like to ask you a couple of questions if you don't mind."

"Am I being arrested?" Chloe asked as she gestured to her handcuffs.

"No-"

"Then I want my lawyer present," Chloe demanded. "I'm pleading the fifth otherwise."

With a quiet chuckle, Avery stood up and walked around the table - sitting down on the edge. "Have you anything to hide? Why so eager to get a lawyer involved, hm?"

Chloe didn't answer him, knowing her rights.

Avery sighed and stood up, walking around Chloe before he stopped beside her - staring at a blank mirror on one of the walls, giving it a quick nod. "Luckily for you, we had called up your lawyer ahead of time - what'd you know, huh?"

Giving the table a louder than usual smack, Chloe froze in her seat.

"Thought so," Avery spoke and chuckled again, walking back around towards his seat.

After a few moments the door opened again, revealing a tall, short-haired man wearing a grey, checkered suit and a briefcase in his hand. Adjusting his glasses, he entered and pulled out a chair beside Chloe, giving her a smile and extending his hand towards the FBI agent, shaking it for a few seconds before falling back.

"Warren Graham, licensed lawyer," Warren spoke with a smile and interlocked his fingers.

"Pleasure," Matt rolled his eyes as he replied. "Now that your lawyer is present, I'd like to ask you a few questions regarding two separate ongoing investigations."

Chloe nodded. "Shoot," she mumbled and pointed a finger gun at him.

"Firstly, what do you know about one Frank Bowers?" Avery questioned Chloe, raising his finger quickly before she answered. "Before you say you don't know him, we have reliable evidence and multiple eye witness accounts that place you and him attending the exact same biking events three years in a row between 2014 and 2017, not including the fact that your friend and club President - Rachel Amber - had an extensive relationship with him for a few years."

Warren cleared his throat and ran a finger underneath his collar, turning his head towards Chloe and giving her a nod.

"Frank's a friend, that's about it," Chloe answered. "Him and Rachel had an on and off relationship for a few years - that's how I got to know him."

"When was the last time you spoke to Frank?" Avery continued.

Chloe shrugged. "Two, three years ago - the last time him and Rachel were together, he was just leaving her house after an argument."

Avery nodded and opened up the file on the desk, making a quick note of his findings. "Anything else? Perhaps your club and the Wicked Few had met before?"

"Never," Chloe shook her head as she spoke. "We may have attended the same events, but we've never had contact with their club - only Frank."

"Satisfactory." Avery nodded and finished noting something else down. "Where were you yesterday at around 7:30PM?"

"Riding through Portland," Chloe lied. "I can get my Valkyrie… sisters to confirm that, should you wish."

Nodding again, Avery continued to note down information. "Anything else? Visit any strip clubs, dives or bars?"

"None."

"Okay," he muttered and ran his hand through his beard. "Ever hear the name Jeremy Wadsworth?" Avery asked, making a point of looking straight at Chloe to read her reaction.

"Never," Chloe lied again, staring straight back at him with a stone cold gaze. "He famous or something? Somebody I should know?"

"Oh, not at all." Avery chuckled and looked down at his notes."Wadsworth owned a strip club in Portland, located on Foster Boulevard. Yesterday at around 7:30PM the place had been involved in an unfortunate accident and burnt down, taking Jeremy and two others with him sadly."

Chloe nodded.

"Nobody seemed to have seen anything unusual," Avery continued and stood up, taking out a picture from the folder. "The accident is being dealt as what it hadseemed to be - an accident."

"So why are you asking me about it?" Chloe looked up as she saw Avery begin to make his way around.

Leaning down over her slightly, Avery revealed a CCTV capture depicting the Valkyrie formation riding down a street in Portland. "Perhaps you'd like to tell me why you and your 'sisters' were riding through the same block only 20 minutes prior?"

"Like I said," Chloe began and looked at the picture, "We were riding through Portland - it was coincidence we were around that place at the time."

"Uh-huh." Avery stood back up and threw the photo down on the table, shoving his hands into his pockets and beginning to slowly pace around the table. "So let me get this straight. You and your club were within the same area as the strip club that burnt down, within 20 minutes of each other and without any witnesses that could backup your statements other than yourselves?"

"Sure," Chloe shrugged and shifted in her seat when Warren nudged her slightly with his leg. "Total coincidence, we're just a group motorcycle enthusiasts - nothing more, nothing less."

"Mhm." Avery sat himself back down and looked over his notes, occasionally shooting a glance up at Chloe or Warren - being met with both their gazes back. "Alright. Can you tell me what you were doing yesterday at roughly 2:45PM?"

"Sitting in a motel room and drinking beer," Chloe yet again lied. "Why? You trying to connect me to another one of your mysterious arson cases?"

"How'd you know it was an arson case?"

Chloe bit her tongue painfully but kept a straight face. "I assumed."

"Assumed," Avery repeated. "Interesting. I'll go ahead and assume that you'll also have no witnesses that can backup your presence in the motel room other than your friends?"

"I'd think not considering I'd want privacy in the confines of my own rented room," Chloe replied and stared at Avery.

"Alright." He nodded and then made a note of something. "At roughly 2:45PM yesterday there was a supposed accident inside an old warehouse in the industrial district, place burnt down and unfortunately one poor soul was lost."

"Tragic." Chloe looked around the room momentarily before resting her eyes back on Avery.

"Quite." Avery smiled and turned over some sheets in the folder. "Alright, one more question."

"Cool."

"Who do you think is responsible for blowing up Julie Twine's and Hannah Atkinson's property?"

"Objection!" Warren said in an instant as he brought his hand down to the table. "My client will not be answering that question, that case is still being officially treated as a gas explosion-"

"Come on, let's be honest here - both of you." Avery smiled and leaned forward. "We both know that gas explosions aren't that tame, it was an explosive device - an expensive one at that-"

"That's enough." Warren stood up and placed both his hands down on the table, peering at Avery. "Have you any other sensible questions, or will this be all?"

Avery smiled and stood up, gathering up his folder quietly. "That'll be enough. Your client is free," he said and made his way towards the door, stopping once his hand touched the handle. "I'll be seeing you again, Ms. Price."

Before Chloe could reply, the door to the room opened and revealed another agent dressed in similar fashion to Avery.

"What is it?" Avery asked as his eyebrow was cocked.

Leaning in, the other agent whispered something in his ear - causing both his eyebrows to raise again in an instant.

"Uh-huh," he hummed and looked back at Chloe with a smirk. "Perfect timing on the answers really, I've another appointment lined up right now - I'll be seeing you."

Chloe watched with a scowl as Avery disappeared behind the doorway. A few seconds later the door opened again and a regular officer entered, making his way towards Chloe and grasping her cuffs - unlocking them with a key as they clattered down to the table loudly.

Rubbing her wrists, Chloe stood up and looked at Warren. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it," Warren mumbled and led the way out of the room.

Walking outside, Chloe looked down the corridor that was filled with various police personnel, noticing Avery and the other agent disappearing into another interrogation room promptly. Following Warren the entire way, she kept her eyes on the floor the entire time - thinking over the interrogation in her head.

"Yo," Daisy called out and stood up from her seat. "You good?"

Chloe smiled. "Yeah. I'm free, you too?"

"Yeah," Daisy replied and turned towards the double-doors leading outside. "Let's talk in the van."

The three of them quickly left the police station in the middle of Olympia, looking around the street for the police impound lot just down the road. Crossing quickly, they upped their pace as they walked towards the lot - exchanging a few quick words with the officers in charge before being shown to their vehicle.

"Alright," Daisy said as she slammed the door shut - waiting for Chloe and Warren to enter. With a flick of the key, she started the engine and shot a glance at Chloe. "Talk."

"He asked me about Frank, Jeremy and the surveillance warehouse we burnt down yesterday," Chloe said and then looked out the window, watching as Daisy drove them out of the lot slowly.

"Jesus." Daisy turned the truck into the street, staring up at the oncoming night sky quickly. "That's exactly what they talked to me about too. Avery?"

"Yeah."

"You're both lucky that they didn't have anything concrete," Warren interrupted and peeked out of the back between the two seats. "They could've kept you there for two days at least."

"Thanks again," Chloe smiled as she faced Warren. "If you weren't there I'd answer that question like an idiot."

"Yeah, you've got to be careful with those." Warren sat himself back down and adjusted his tie. "Do you mind dropping me off somewhere? I'll catch an Uber to my place."

"Sure," Daisy said and looked at Chloe momentarily. "They ask you about anything else? Or was that it?"

Chloe shook her head. "That was it."

"How's Max?" Warren asked with a smile.

Daisy coughed awkwardly and shot a frown in the direction of Warren, causing him to back down in an instant. "Chloe, it's actually pretty late - you want to stay in a motel until the morning, or do you want to head up to Seattle right now?"

"Motel."

"Alright, I'll look for one once we've dropped Warren off."


As the van began to slow down on the road, Chloe opened her eyes and had noticed the familiar neighbourhood coming into view. On one side sat numerous suburban houses, modest homes in a comfortable area of Seattle. The other side followed a similar pattern, only occasionally it was broken up by a set of shops or a small park.

"We're nearly there," Daisy muttered and looked at Chloe with a smile. "Did you catch some shut eye?"

"No."

Daisy went quiet again and bit her lip, glancing into the wing mirror. "Ellen is going to meet us down the street from her house-"

"Are her parents home?"

"Both of them," Daisy answered and heard Chloe sigh. "Hey," she shoved Chloe lightly to get her attention, "It'll be fine - seriously."

"Sure," Chloe mumbled and put her head against the window again.

Minutes passed as the scenery hadn't changed - the same rows of similar houses continued on and on until they had begun to approach a cul-de-sac in the far distance, suggesting that it was the end of the street. Chloe noticed the parked motorcycle on the side of the road and the female biker that stood beside it, her hands crossed as she was smiling towards the incoming van.

"Here," Daisy said and turned the engine off, jumping out of the truck.

Ellen opened Chloe's door, pulled her out and straight into a hug, patting her back. "Hey, what's up boss?"

"Dont-." Chloe moved away from the hug and held up her hand. "Don't call me that."

Daisy looked over at Ellen as they met in a quick stare, exchanging looks before Daisy shook her head. "Anything interesting happen?" Daisy asked to try and move the conversation onward.

"Uh, no. A few unusual SUV's and vans cropped up, but I looked into it and they were just the norm around here seemingly." Ellen shrugged and slammed the van door shut behind Chloe. "So, uh… do you mind telling me what happened when I was gone?"

Chloe sighed and slumped herself against the van, looking up at Ellen momentarily. "I'm not president anymore. Miley is."

"Oh." Ellen glanced at Daisy again. "Uh. Was this what we were talking about-"

"Yeah." Daisy nodded. "She uh… took over."

"You were in it too?" Chloe asked, a hint of sadness in her voice that another one of her friends had essentially betrayed her. "F-fucking great-"

"Chloe, I didn't want you to bring us back to those times," Ellen confessed as she looked her over. "I… I was up for killing then, but now? We're past that."

"You seemed to be all up for killing federal agents just two days ago!" Chloe shot out in anger. "F-fucking… y'know what? Don't bother."

"Chloe-"

"Don't." Chloe raised her hand and took in a deep breath, laughing to herself quietly. "What's done is done. I don't care anymore, I'm behind the club."

Daisy approached and put her hand on Chloe's shoulder, giving it a quick squeeze. "Come on, let's go."

Chloe sniffled and nodded, pushing herself off the van and breaking into a steady walk down the street. Ellen and Daisy followed closely behind, shooting each other looks the entire way down towards the house near the end of the cul-de-sac - Max's parents home.

"Do you want us to talk first?" Daisy asked as they had begun to approach.

"No." Chloe shook her head and wiped away whatever tears were left. "No. I have to deal with this. Just… just stand nearby, hold me back if I do something stupid."

"Okay." Ellen nodded and then looked up at the balcony of the house they were now walking in front of. "Is that her room?"

"Yeah." Chloe looked up herself and noticed the curtains were drawn shut. "That's her room."

Upon reaching the door, Chloe held her hand over it for a few seconds - hesitating. Looking back at Daisy and Ellen, she received an assuring smile from them both, prompting her to knock on the door a few times and drop her hand back down afterwards.

Chloe watched as the door opened and reveal a burly man wearing a plaid shirt, sporting a lumberjack beard and a swept back haircut - Ryan Caulfield.

"You," he began and took a step forward with his hand raised. "You've got some nerve showing up here after what you've done."

"I… I need to talk to Max. Please." Chloe shifted on her feet and looked at the ground. "It's important."

"No-"

"Please," Chloe repeated and looked up, ignoring the fact that tears may or may not have begun to appear in her eyes again. "Just… just give me a chance to talk to her."

Ryan shot a glance at Chloe's friends, recognising them vaguely as Max had once showed him pictures of them from Valkyrie events in the past. Looking back at Chloe, he sighed and relented. "Fine. Stay here, I'll call her down."

Chloe smiled and nodded, watching as Ryan closed the door behind him. Turning on her heel, she saw Daisy holding her fist out. "W-what?"

"Give me your hand," she said and grabbed Chloe's hand, putting her fist in it and passing over a small item. "You forgot this."

"Jesus," Chloe said as she opened her palm and noticed the simple golden band she was given. "Where'd you g-get this?"

"I bought it whilst you were sleeping in the motel in Olympia," Daisy said. "Miley told me you'd need it over the phone."

"I can't-"

"Chloe," Ellen spoke up and put her hands on her shoulders - giving her a shake. "Woman. The. Fuck. Up."

"Do it today," Daisy added, "or don't do it at all - we can only help you so much, the rest is up to you."

"O-okay-"

"That's just an engagement ring too, remember that - I'm not splashing out my cash for your wedding rings, get your own," Daisy teased and playfully shoved Chloe, causing her to chuckle quietly and sniffle.

"Thank you," she said quietly and pulled Daisy into a hug, exchanging one with Ellen once she moved away. "Thank you both."

"Go get her." Ellen smiled and then gestured Chloe towards the door.

As if on cue, the door opened and immediately revealed the short, brunette form belonging to Chloe's girlfriend - Max. Giving the bikers a quick look, she brushed her hair out of her eyes and focused on Chloe.

"What do you want?" Max asked quietly.

Chloe hid the golden band in her jeans whilst she put her hands beside herself. "I need to talk to you."

"About what?"

"Not here." Chloe shook her head as she gestured around. "Please?"

Max shot a glance at Daisy and received a smile and a wink back, catching her off guard momentarily. "Okay. U-uhm. You remember where my room is, right?"

"Yeah." Chloe smiled.

"Go up, I'll be there in a second."

"Okay," Chloe replied and took a step forward, walking past Max slowly and stopping at the foot of the stairs immediately in front of the door. Giving Max a quick look, she smiled and made her way up - catching the gaze of Vanessa Caulfield staring daggers at her from the kitchen.

"Max," Ellen whispered once Chloe was out of earshot. "Give her a chance, okay?"

"Why?" Max asked with a hint of anger. "Why should I?"

"You love her, that's why," Daisy continued for Ellen. "She loves you and she's devastated right now. She's had a… rough few days since you guys have been away, okay? Listen to what she has to say, please?"

Max looked at Daisy and then Ellen.

"Max, I'm going to tell you the truth up front before she does and breaks down." Daisy looked behind the photographer and spotted her mother looking at them with a frown. "Chloe isn't a part of the club anymore. Miley forcefully replaced her, for good reason - it's broken her, she's been quiet since then and hasn't slept at all."

"O-okay-"

"There's some really, really heavy shit she has to tell you - be kind to her, she needs affection. I won't say anymore because I don't want to apologise for her mistakes - that's on her and her alone," Daisy finished and smiled. "We'll be down the road near that van," she gestured towards their parked vehicle, "so if you need something or anything happens - we're a stone's throw away."

Max nodded again.

"Now go and listen to her - and remember - she loves you more than the club, there's no doubt about it anymore."


Chloe sat on the edge of Max's bed quietly, her fingers absently playing with the frayed covers of the blanket - her eyes drifting from pattern to pattern on the carpeted floor. Sitting, she could feel the small bump in her jeans from where the engagement ring had been resting.

The door opened after a few minutes and Max stepped inside, closing it behind her and leaning against it - her hand moving to lock it behind her. "Uhm. I was just telling my parents we needed privacy."

"Okay." Chloe smiled and looked back down on the floor.

Max made her way over and hesitated for a second as she considered sitting down beside Chloe. Looking over the woman, she noticed the growing bags underneath her eyes and her general sorry state - also catching a glimpse of a bandage peeking out from underneath her black tank-top that she was wearing. With a sigh, she sat down beside Chloe and took her hand into her own, intertwining their fingers.

"What did you want to tell me?" Max asked quietly.

Chloe looked down at the contact they had made, almost afraid of the fact that she was touching Max with the same hand that had hurt her a few days prior. "I-," she tried to begin but lost her words in the back of her throat, instead letting out a quiet sob. Quickly she brought her other hand to her mouth and looked away, shaking her head. "I c-can't," she mouthed out in utter silence.

"Come here," Max whispered and wrapped her other hand around Chloe's shoulder, bringing her into an embrace.

Frigid, Chloe shook in her place but eventually ceded - allowing her body to melt into her girlfriend's embrace and let it all out. Her sobs had come out hard, each one soaking Max's shoulder and her shirt from where Chloe was resting her head. Muffled, she tried to speak but instead mumbled out incomprehensible words that were constantly broken by her cries.

"Shh," Max whispered and sniffled as she herself had begun to let out a few tears at Chloe's state. "Shh, it's okay."

"Max," Chloe cried out quietly. "Max, I'm s-so, so s-sorry for everything-"

"It's alright, shh," the brunette continued and stroked her girlfriend's neck gently, using it to pull her closer.

It took a few minutes before Chloe had managed to finally run out of tears to shed, her interactions limited to occasional sniffles and squeezes of her hand that were returned by Max twice fold. When she was finally ready, Chloe moved her head away from Max's shoulder and ran her free hand over her eyes, wiping away the rest of her tears. Taking a few deep breaths to let herself calm down sufficiently, she finally looked back up and was met with Max's loving gaze already centered on her and her alone.

"Okay," she began and took another breath. "I'm going to tell you everything. There is some h-heavy stuff that I'll be talking about, so if you feel uncomfortable or need a break or something-"

"Chloe." Max smiled and squeezed her hand. "I'll be okay. Just tell me everything."

"Where do you want me to start?" Chloe asked.

"The beginning would be a good place, no?" Max teased with a smile. "Take your time."

Chloe nodded and took in yet another deep breath. "Right. D-do you remember the end of your gap year after Blackwell, how my mood was all over the place? I was pissy, kept shrugging you off, not coming home?"

Max nodded. "Yeah."

"I was having another one of my dad episodes, keeping to myself and shutting the world off - wanting to be alone, feeling abandoned by my own damn family. It… It sucked."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Max looked concerned as she brushed some hair out of her face. "Chloe, I was always there, you know that."

"Now I do." Chloe shook her head in disappointment. "I was pissed off at you too for a stupid reason. You were getting busy readying yourself for college and university, meanwhile I was sulking away at how shitty my family life was since dad left. I… I felt like you'd abandoned me too, just like dad. I was scared, had nobody to talk to."

"Is that why you d-didn't call me for months after I left?" Max asked quietly.

Chloe sniffled and nodded. "Yep. Eventually Lonnie sat me down and forced me to call you and talk. You've no idea how happy hearing you made me feel. I instantly forgot about all my shit and wanted to do nothing more but to talk to you."

"I know, the conversation lasted for four hours - remember?"

With a laugh and another sniffle, Chloe nodded. "I do."

"So why didn't you call me again until the end of the year?" Max whispered as she looked at Chloe. "I was worried-"

"I'm sorry." Chloe squeezed Max's hand and shook her head. "I fell right back into that shitpit of despair and abandonment the moment you hung up. I didn't feel the same when you weren't there, you know? I… M-Max, we've always been close before then, constantly together since we've met. You were suddenly moving halfway across the country to Chicago and I had no way of reaching you."

"Chloe-"

"That's only half the truth though." Chloe sighed and then looked across Max's room absently. "I began to drown my sorrows in alcohol. I know I had gotten drunk before and had my fair share of beers during our time together, but… this was serious. Max, I became an alcoholic - literally spent my days just drinking and drinking, nothing else. It only became worse when I'd learned that you were opting to stay in Chicago for your holidays before the 2nd year. It… it devastated me. Literally struck the nail in the coffin that I had buried myself in."

Max sniffled and nodded, gesturing Chloe to continue.

"I was a raging drunk. Rachel couldn't control me, Lonnie and Sasha couldn't control me. I'd walk into a bar and walk out in handcuffs because I… I fucking smashed a bottle over somebody's head for looking at me wrong. It was bad." Chloe sighed. "I ignored your calls, never left the house after my third assault charge that was dropped against me, thanks to Sasha and her connections."

"What changed?" Max ran a hand over her eyes and quickly rubbed away any trace of tears present.

"Lonnie got my shit together. Caught me buying booze at a gas station, dragged me off back to the house and said it to me straight." Chloe let out another sob and shook her head quickly. "She said that I was losing you. I wasn't talking to you, wasn't calling, wasn't picking up - I didn't care because I had built up this whole fake, bullshit abandonment fear out of nowhere. She literally scoured the entire house for every single alcohol bottle and threw it away, refused to leave the house at all."

"Sounds like her," Max confirmed with a quiet giggle. "Stubborn."

"Yeah," Chloe said quietly. "Her and Sasha literally moved to our house for the duration of your 2nd year - never left me alone, never allowed me to do so much as drink a drop of alcohol, no matter what it was. There were nights where everything would just come crashing down on me for no reason, I'd shout and scream and struggle the entire time. Lonnie would hold me down and they'd force me into the bedroom kicking and screaming, then they'd lock me inside until I had calmed down."

Max brought her hand up to her mouth. "Chloe-"

"I know." Chloe raised her free hand in admittance. "I know. It was a living nightmare for me. Then came the day where I finally answered your call after Lonnie said it was important, the one in which you told me you were taking a year of absence to come back home. I… I don't think I was ever happier before when I heard that."

"Lonnie arranged that," Max quickly said as she revealed her own secret. "I… I knew a bit about what was happening. She made passing mentions that you were having issues because I'd left, but... but never did I think it was that bad. J-Jesus… I'm so sorry Chloe-"

"Don't be," Chloe looked at Max and shook her head. "It was my fault for making up all these fears in the first place. You were building a future for yourself whilst I had wanted to stay in the past, wanted you by my side the entire time rather than allow you to follow your dreams. I was in the wrong, not you."

Max kept quiet.

"So after I learned that you'd be coming back… I dunno. Something just sparked in me - I began to vigorously follow everything that Lonnie and Sasha made me do. I completely forgot about everything, all those petty little fears and problems that I built up like a damn wall around myself. It just went - poof - like that." Chloe sighed. "I didn't touch alcohol for three months when you came back. Lonnie and Sasha thought that I'd never go back to it but… then they died."

Max sniffled and quickly pulled Chloe into another embrace. "Chloe-"

"I know, it's pathetic-"

"No," Max shook her head as she spoke. "Never. Not pathetic, never, never say that about yourself."

Chloe nodded and waited for a few moments before moving back out of the embrace. "Once they died I went back to alcohol. You noticed and got pissed off, but you never stopped me because you didn't know the truth. I hid it from you and I paid the price. Remember the nights where I would come home and never answered my phone? Chances are I was on a drinking binge, drowning myself away in some dive in Portland or something. My way of coping with their death."

"You should've told me," Max whispered. "You should have told me Chloe."

"I should've but I didn't. I was afraid of what'd you say, that you'd shun me as some alcohol abusing nobody, afraid that you'd leave me because of it. G-God, I was so scared." Chloe dropped her head into her hand and sniffled. "For years I kept it hidden from you and then I h-hurt you. M-Max, I h-hurt you! I can't forgive myself f-for that."

"Chloe," Max whispered and brought her hand around Chloe's head, bringing their foreheads together. "I didn't know. I d-didn't know. I thought y-you were just slightly drunk, I d-didn't know you h-had problems before-"

"That's on me." Chloe closed her eyes and relished the contact between them. "It's my fault, I completely admit that. I still h-hurt you though. I promised myself to n-never, never show myself to you when I was so drunk. I broke that promise a-and look what I d-did," she whispered and drifted her hand underneath Max's jaw, stopping quickly when the brunette winced at the contact. "I'm s-sorry. I'm so sorry."

Max shook her head. "Chloe, I f-forgive you. I forgive you, I didn't know the truth. I wouldn't have p-provoked you, shouted at you, if I knew."

Chloe sniffled and then shook her head, wrapping her hand around Max instead and pulling her into another embrace - burying her face into her shoulder. "I'm sorry b-baby, I'm so, so sorry for h-hurtiing you. Never again. I'm d-done with all that, done."

Giving her a few moments to cry on her shoulder again, Max broke apart their intertwined hands and brought both of them around her girlfriend instead, squeezing Chloe with each muffled sob that she let out onto her shoulder. Before long, Chloe had once again calmed down enough to fall back into simple sniffles and squeezes.

"That's not e-everything though." Chloe moved her head back and looked at Max, their foreheads together again. "Max, there's s-so much more."

"Tell me."

"A-alcohol wasn't the only thing I tried," Chloe whispered and closed her eyes. "Max, I f-fell into drugs for a while. I'm n-not talking my hippy weed either - h-heroin, cocaine, MDMA. I w-was in s-such a fucking spiral, Lonnie barely managed to rescue me," she continued in a whisper. "I'm s-so sorry, I never m-meant to do a-any of it."

"Have you…?" Max asked quietly.

"No. F-fuck no, I never touched that s-shit ever again." Chloe shook her head firmly. "Never again, I couldn't do t-that to you, even with the alcohol. I'm done with all of that, I promise."

"Okay," Max whispered and brought her hand up between them, brushing Chloe's hair out of her face and resting it on her cheek. "Tell me the rest."

"M-Max, I… I've killed people," Chloe admitted in an almost inaudible whisper. "G-God, I've killed s-so many people."

Max stayed silent, instead deciding to simply nod.

"I'm n-not proud of it, I never will be. I did it for the club, d-did it to make a life for us. I w-wanted you to be happy, nothing else mattered. J-Jesus, my mind is s-so fucked up because of it all." Chloe trembled and let out another sob, quickly being silenced when Max's thumb pressed against her lips. "I did it to p-protect you, I'm sorry."

"Chloe, I u-understand."

"M-Max, baby, I… I've killed dozens in the p-past week alone. I can't. I can't do it anymore, Maxie, baby - I c-can't-"

"Don't," Max whispered and shook her head. "Don't do it anymore. Don't hurt yourself for me, p-please."

Chloe nodded and quickly buried her face into Max's neck, seeking her comfort to help her calm down. Giving herself few moments of respite, she nodded again. "Never. I'm d-done with it all. I will only do it to p-protect you directly, n-nobody will hurt you. Nobody."

Max conceded little ground to Chloe and nodded. "O-okay. Only to protect me, but n-never again. I don't want you to have any of this on your mind anymore, you've done m-more than enough."

"Max, there's e-even more. God, everything recently has been a living hell." Chloe sighed and took in a deep breath, catching the scent of Max's freshly washed clothes and a hint of cinnamon - the small thing bringing a faint smile to her lips. "I'm not w-with the club anymore. It's too much, I can't do it. I've done all I can, I… I started leading them back d-down the hole again, tried to get them to h-help me kill people. I f-fucked up and Miley took over. I'm done. Max, I'm finally free."

"Why have y-you been doing this? What's been going on?" Max asked in a whisper, brushing her lips against Chloe's ear and causing her to shudder slightly.

"I-It's all catching up to us. Everything we did years ago, deals and murders and everything else, our contacts with Frank's c-club… it's all crashing down. Baby, our house of cards is tumbling down." Chloe sniffled and shook her head against Max's skin. "The FBI, Max. The FBI - they're c-coming down onto us and I c-can't do anything to protect you."

Max felt her own heart shrivel and nearly die at the sob of pain that Chloe had let out in an instant after her speech. Using her hands, she simply brought her girlfriend closer and placed her mouth next to her ear, whispering, "Shh, it'll be okay. C-Chloe, we'll think of s-something, we'll be okay."

"M-Max, I c-can't protect you." Chloe sobbed and shook her head. "T-they're going to imprison me and I can't protect you."

"We'll run," Max said. "We'll run, we c-can hide - we don't have to give up."

"Max I'm tired," Chloe stated and sobbed quietly. "I'm tired of running. I'm tired of killing, dealing, tired of h-hiding things and trying to keep everything going. I j-just want to spend my time with you, t-thats all I want. I'm s-scared, I d-don't want to leave you - I'd rather die than do that. I c-can't, not anymore."

Shaking her head again, Max used both her hands to cup Chloe's face and bring it up to hers - staring straight into her eyes. "Chloe, it'll work out. We'll think of something, we always think of something."

"G-God, I have so much more to say," Chloe whispered and closed her eyes again. "But I c-can't. I can't Max, I'm sorry - it hurts so much."

"It's okay." Max nodded. "You can tell me some other time, okay? Chloe, I forgive you for everything," she said as she brought her lips up to Chloe's forehead, giving it a lingering kiss. "I forgive you, don't worry."

"I h-have to say this, M-Max, I have to." Chloe lowered one hand behind her and wildly grasped at her back pocket, fishing inside and retrieving the golden ring she'd received from Daisy. "Max, I l-love you so much-"

"I love you too Chloe-"

"Now might not seem like the g-greatest time to ask this, but fuck it - right? I've spent far too long contemplating and delaying this," she whispered and revealed the golden band between her fingers with a smile. "Max, I c-can't imagine life without you, you're my rock, light of my life and yaddayaddayadda - shit - I seriously just made this up on the spot by the way."

Max laughed quietly as she looked at the ring. "T-that's okay."

"Will you marry me? I want to spend the rest of my crazy, dangerously unstable life with you, wherever it takes us - I really don't care anymore, I just want you with me."

"I w-will," Max whispered and nodded through her tears. "I'll marry you."

"Good." Chloe giggled as she brought Max's hand up between them and slowly slipped the ring onto her finger, quickly giving it a kiss with a smile. "I'll make up the shitty proposal up to you somehow, don't worry."

"Okay," Max whispered again.

"Jesus," Chloe said and shook her head, bringing it up to Max's shoulder and embracing her. "This is all s-so much, isn't it? I'm sorry for hiding this from you, but I w-wanted to keep you away from my issues, I didn't want you worrying over me."

"Chloe, I'm your fiancée now," Max giggled as she wiggled her ring carrying finger between them playfully. "I have the right to worry over you, don't keep things away from me anymore, okay?"

"Count on it." Chloe nodded and giggled herself. "I'm going to tell you everything unless you don't want me to. Everything I do and everything that happens - I'm saying it all, okay?"

"That's all I want."

"Good,"

"Chloe." Max gave her a kiss on the ear to get her attention. "Stay the night with me, p-please."

"Your parents-"

"-have no say in who stays in my room, their house be damned." Max giggled. "Besides, we're engaged now - they have to respect that."

"So eager to tell them, huh?" Chloe laughed and threaded her fingers through her chestnut hair. "Going home might be off the books anyway."

"G-great," Max rolled her eyes playfully. "Let me guess, it's something to do with the FBI and all these p-people you've been hurting?"

"Something like that, yeah."

"That's okay. I don't really care about any of it, I just want to be next to you."

"Me too."


Laying wide awake in the bed, Chloe focused herself on the quiet breathing come just from below her neck, the hot sensation constantly brushing against the hairs on her skin and the two petite hands wrapped tight around her bandaged torso. Absently staring up at the ceiling, she sometimes caught the dancing shadows of the curtains against the moonlight or the headlights of a passing car.

Snapping to attention, she caught the movement of her girlfriend - fianceé - against her as her breath hitched momentarily, falling back into a normal pattern after a few moments.

"Can't sleep?" Max whispered as she had noticed that Chloe was staring up at the ceiling.

"Thinking," Chloe muttered and turned her head to the side. "Go back to sleep, don't worry about it nerd."

Max smiled when Chloe kissed her forehead but shook her head afterwards. "Tell me."

"Okay," Chloe said and looked back up at the ceiling. "Just… thinking about everything I told you. Now that it's off my chest, I feel so… weird? I dunno. For the longest time I was scared you'd leave me if you knew, but you just… brushed it aside and forgave me. It blows my mind."

"You blow my mind," Max replied and giggled.

Chloe laughed and left another quick kiss on her forehead. "I'm glad I have that effect on you."

Letting out a content sigh, Max nuzzled her face into Chloe's skin and quietly listened to the sounds around them - their combined breaths, the occasional car passing the house, the ticking of the clock on the wall.

"Is your mom gonna be okay?" Chloe asked.

"Dad caught her before she fell, I wouldn't worry about it." Max giggled as she remembered her parents faces the moment she told them about their sudden engagement. "I doubt I'll ever forget the look on their faces when I showed them the ring."

"I don't think I will either." Chloe smiled and brushed some hair out of her face. "Jesus, I was legitimately ready to run when I saw Ryan staring at me."

Max laughed and shook her head in disbelief at the confession. "Dad wouldn't have done anything. He tries to act tough but he's way too gentle in reality, he'd never do anything to you-"

"I'd rather not test that theory." Chloe shook her head. "No thanks."

"Oh, is my big bad punk biker scared?" Max teased and looked up momentarily with a smirk. "I'm proud of you," she whispered and pecked Chloe's cheek with a smile.

"Why?"

"For being brave enough to be there when I told them," Max continued as she dropped her head back down, using one finger to trace shapes over Chloe's skin. "I know that you've never liked my parents, but it meant a lot that you were willing to tell them beside me."

"Max," Chloe began and shifted to her side, facing Max with a smile. "I'd do so many things for you-"

"You already have-"

"I know, but that doesn't change the fact that I'd do so much more if you asked me to. Hell, if you'd been kidnapped and taken across the entire length of the galaxy - hypothetical situation - I'd search the galaxy thrice over to find you. Then, when I'd find you-"

"...what would you do?"

"I," Chloe huskily whispered and planted her hands on Max's hips, pulling her in close, "would take you to my super awesome spaceship, the Chrysalis-"

"Chrysalis?"

"Yes, the Chrysalis." Chloe giggled and then turned onto her back again, pulling Max with her and on top - watching as she straddled her. "I'd undress you," she whispered and pulled her down into a short kiss, "then I'd take you then and there, give you the night of your life for all the nights we weren't together."

Max laughed and dropped her head beside Chloe's. "You call me a nerd, but you make up stuff like this? You're… you're a biker punk-nerd."

"Hey, I'm just saying!" Chloe brought one hand down to her chest in a mock hurt gesture. "I would do that if it happened, you know?"

"Oh, I know," Max smiled and lifted herself up slightly, brushing her lips against Chloe's. "I know. You're crazy enough to do that. But."

"But what?"

"That wouldn't be viable because it'd take you somewhere around 300,000 years to travel across the galaxy three times, that's being generous and giving you the ability to travel at the speed of light too-"

"Oh, shut up you big nerd." Chloe shook her head and forcefully pulled her down into a kiss. "Just… let me dream, okay?"

"Okay." Max giggled as she placed their foreheads together.

"Max…" Chloe sighed and closed her eyes. "W-what are we going to do? I know we're together now, but when the FBI and all this shit comes knocking… what are we going to do? I don't want to leave you."

"It'll be okay," Max whispered and nodded to assure both herself and Chloe. "It'll be okay. We'll think of something. I will fight tooth and nail to keep you beside me, nobody is going to take you away."

"I don't think that'll be enough-"

"I think you underestimate what I'd do to keep you." Max grinned and gave her a quick peck. "There would be no safe place in the world for whoever took you away from me. Nu-uh."

Chloe laughed quietly and nodded. "Somehow I believe you."

"Good," she continued and moved to her side, laying down beside Chloe and immediately snuggling into her. "Let's just spend as much time together as we can from now on, okay?"

"You won't find me complaining." Chloe smiled and shifted her head to the side, leaving a trail of kisses over Max's forehead. "Let's go to sleep now, we've got to wake up early tomorrow."

"Why?"

"I'm taking you on a ride."