(Ch 12)
When the sun rose up, Terry walked the streets of Gotham until they stopped at Max's. He'd never been so nervous in all his life, but he kept walking, making his way up to her floor. Standing at her door, his hand paused in midair. He could hear the fast beat of his heart. He knocked on the door and heard footsteps coming towards it. The door opened, and she smiled at him.
"Well look whose using the door for once."
"I thought I'd try something different for once."
She closed the door behind him and followed him over to the couch. "What brings you here McGinnis? No crime this early in the morning?"
"Well it was a rough day yesterday with Spell binder." He watched her eyes light up and smiled. "Of course you want to know the details Max silly me."
"You know me well McGinnis."
After his detailed account of him against Spellbinder, he looked over at Max because he couldn't face her the whole time. "So, what do you think?"
"I'm sorry you had to go through that Terry. Was it at least a good fantasy while it lasted?"
"How can it be a good fantasy when it wasn't real?"
"Can you at least tell me a bit about it? Anything?"
"My father was alive. In my fantasy he faked his death. Also, you're sister is engaged to a guy named Brandon, and they came back to Gotham to get married and stay for good. Your parents were there to. That's some of it anyway."
"Wow that does sound great except for my parents coming back and all. We both know that would never happen.' She sighed.
"What?"
"I just wish you didn't have to lose your dad." She was playing with her hands as she looked at them on her lap. She watched as Terry grabbed one of her hands in his.
"Me to but I like to think he's proud of me from wherever he is."
"You didn't come all this way to tell me about your adventure with Spellbinder. There's something else, isn't there?"
"You know me well to Max."
"You look like this is the hardest thing for you to say McGinnis."
"Well it is. I've never said this before, and it's important that you know."
"Ok now you're scaring me a little. What is it?"
"Well it can be scary depending on how you take it."
"Well don't beat around the bush," she said with sarcasm.
"When I tell you, you might wish I hadn't."
"Terry!"
"Ok, ok." He stood up, letting go of Max's hand. "Ironically Spellbinder's trick made me realize some things about you I didn't see myself until now."
"Which would be?"
"Well I don't think I've appreciated all you've done for me with me being not just Batman but Terry. I want to thank you for always having my back and being there for me when I needed to talk even when it was the middle of the night and I woke you up. You still listened and gave me advice, which I always counted on because you wouldn't hold anything back. You still don't."
"You don't have to thank me Terry. I do all those things because I want to and the fact that you're my best friend." She thought for a moment before she spoke again. "But that's still not all of it, is it Terry?" She smiled.
"No, again you're too smart for your own good." He sat back down next to her.
"And there's nothing wrong with that. It's saved your butt on more than one occasion McGinnis."
"I'll admit that's true."
"Good, so what's this other thing you wanted to tell me?" She shifted herself to face him, seeing in his eyes how hard it was for him. Maybe he wasn't ready to tell her. Who was she to push him? Terry felt her hand on his arm. "You don't have to tell me if it's this hard for you Terry."
"Well I don't want to lose you Max."
"And you never will. What's bringing this on? I mean I know we've always had disagreements of me being out there with you to watch your back and fight crime, but I won't bring it up anymore. I was always curious why you disagreed with me. At first I thought it was because I was too immature and it's a serious thing but now I'm starting to think there another reason behind you being adamant."
"If you died out there, I would never be able to forgive myself."
"Oh so it's for your own selfish reasons?" She got up and walked off her anger. Max really didn't want to get into an argument with Terry, but she had a feeling it was inevitable.
"You know it's a serious thing to take on Max. Some of the things I've seen have dragged me down. When I started as Batman, I had nightmares every night. I had to tell my mother it was nothing and suffer in silence and then eventually I adjusted to the job, but I'm still afraid that at some time I'm going to see something I can't come back from. Do you have any idea what that's like?" He sighed in frustration. "I don't want that for you Max. You deserve better than that with what you've been through when you were younger."
"I can handle myself out there Terry and besides I know there's apart of the job that's fulfilling, saving people. That has to count for something, right?"
"It does."
"You've become a better person because of Batman. I know you've lost a lot to Terry. Your father, Charlie, Dana, but there are things I know you'll never lose."
"What's that?"
"Your mom, Matt, Bruce, and me. I'm not going anywhere Terry."
"Why? I mean don't you want to do something with your life-like go to college and get a good job?"
"First off McGinnis I'm doing something meaningful with my life, helping you. Secondly I'm still going to college. I got accepted to Gotham State University, which I told you about but you drifted off to sleep. Third I was going to tell you this later today but when I graduate, I have a job waiting for me at Bruce's company. Bruce didn't just give it to me. I earned it with my schway interview skills, but he did offer me the job. Now I wonder why he did that?" She smiled. "I'd like to think because deep down he likes me. He'll never admit it though he's too proud."
"That sounds like Bruce all right." He smiled.
"Can we try not to argue anymore McGinnis? It gets us nowhere fast."
"You're right and someday someone will win this particular argument."
"And it will be me Terry."
"Oh no it—
"Lets drop it before we start this argument up again. Agreed."
"Agreed."
"So you still want to tell me what's on your mind or should we just forget it?" She sat back down again, leaning against her pillow.
"You remember that day when I carried you back here, and you told me about your family?"
"How could I forget? I never planned to tell anyone, not even you."
"I think it's awful how they left you alone. You don't deserve to be in that kind of pain. I just don't ever want you to think you're alone. I'll always be here for you Max no matter what. I'll never leave you."
"Terry." She hugged her knees, hopping she wouldn't cry with how sweet he was being. That's all she ever wanted. She wanted someone in her life that would never leave her, and she had that promise in Terry. She unclenched her body and relaxed herself. She put her hand on his shoulder. "You're such a good friend to me Terry."
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about Max."
This got her attention and now she was only focused on him. "I'm listening."
"We've always been best friends Max, but I want more." Her heart was pounding rapidly in her chest, and he continued as he took her hands, looking deep into her eyes. He smiled a confident smile and said, "I love you Max." Silence filled the room, which made Terry nervous, and he couldn't take it. "Max." He risked looking at her to notice she was crying, but she was able to calm down.
"You love me Terry?"
"With all my heart Max."
She wiped the tears on her face, smiled at him, got up, and sat on his lap, putting her arm around him. "I love you to Terry." She saw his smile and hugged him, her face over his shoulder. "Oh man I think I'm going to cry again." She held him tighter as his arms went around her.
Terry laughed. "You mind if I cry with you."
"That would be interesting to see." She moved from his shoulder to face him and as she leaned into him, she took his lips with her own. When Terry responded intensely, she pleased that he wanted her so much.
Terry is pleased when she somehow got him lying down on the couch with her above him. She kissed him one last time before lying on top of him, sighing with contentment as his strong, warm arms wrapped around her. They stayed this way the whole time. At one point they drifted off to sleep for a while until there was a knock at the door.
"Were you expecting someone?" He watched as her eyes widened.
"What?"
"Oh I can't believe I forgot." She got off of him and went to answer the door. As Terry sat up on the couch, he saw his boss on the other side of the door with Ace. "Bruce?"
"I forgot to mention I have a meeting today with him to discuss specifically what I'd be doing at Wayne Enterprises."
"It's all right Max. Shall we get started?" He sat down at the table.
"Sure."
"I'll just give you two some privacy. I think I'm going to get some sleep before patrol tonight."
She thought he was going to go home but when he made his way to her room, she smiled before she turned her attention back to Bruce. "You've got my full attention Mr. Wayne."
"Well you'd be the head of the tech department. Keeping track of what's coming in and delegating your team on what new tech supplies is working and what doesn't work. You will also oversee projects with new computers and software. How does that sound to you?"
"Sounds like a dream come true. Thank you."
"You've earned this job all on your own Max."
"I did, didn't I?" Her smile was cocky as she leaned back on your chair. She then realized something. "Oh I'm being rude can I offer you anything, coffee?"
"Sure."
She got up, took out the coffee, put it, in the filter with water, and turned back to him. She smiled. "Something tells me you're a plain black kind of man?"
"You'd be right?" He wondered about something before he arrived.
"Were you two in the middle of something before I came over?"
"No, why?"
"You're usually on top of everything whether it's your studies or looking out for Terry and the fact that your lipstick is smeared."
"Oh man." She blushes as she went to the sink and wiped the lipstick off her face. She then went over to the coffee maker, filled Bruce a cup, and set I before him.
"Thanks Max."
"Sure no problem."
"Don't worry Max I know what it's like to be young?"
"Do you?" she smiled.
"I'm serious."
"I know."
"It's more serious than that Bruce."
By the look in her eyes he could tell she wasn't kidding. "I'm glad for you and Terry. In my opinion he finally got it right and oh don't let it get to your head."
"I won't." She smiled as Ace came out of her bedroom and nuzzled her side. "Hey boy, you miss me?" Ace licked her face as she stroked his coat."
"Well we better get going." Ace walked up to his side and followed Bruce to the door. "Take good care of him Max."
"You don't have to tell me."
She shut the door behind them and walked into her room. Max found Terry contentedly asleep on her bed. When Terry felt a dip in the bed, he rolled over to grab on the body lying beside him. "I hope I didn't wake you."
"Nah I was waking up just as you came in."
"Oh how convenient for me." She felt his kiss on her shoulder that sent pleasurable chills down her spine. She turned around to face him in his hold on her. She kissed his lips and then leaned into his chest as Terry's arms held her closer.
"I love you Maxine." He kissed her before they fell asleep again.
