Author's Note: Here we are, the final chapter!

January 1, 2011

Mario wanted to talk to him about something. He didn't know what it was, but he'd made it seem like it was extremely important. Leaning back, Max rested his head against the stall and closed his eyes. He just wanted to go home, have a drink, and go to sleep. Hearing footsteps, he knew the boss was almost to the room. The door opened and the footsteps stopped.

"Hello Maxime."

His breath caught in his throat, memories played in his brain like a movie and he fought to keep his eyes closed. The pain he thought had finally started to dissipate came roaring back with a vengeance at the seemingly familiar tone.

Ever since that visit from Mac some six months ago, he had dreamt or thought of Juliet at least once every few days. This was the first time he'd imagined her voice while he was doing something hockey-related though. And as he felt a person come to a stop in front of him, he caught a whiff of citrus and his stomach clenched.

You'd think I was the one who got his bell rung, not Sid.

"Max… look at me… please."

He didn't. He couldn't. The pain that would slice through him when he opened his eyes and found no one there… it might kill him.

"I miss you so much sometimes," he whispered. Clearing his throat, he thought of the words he'd always wanted to tell her. "Every now and then I'll see a woman on the street and she'll remind me of you. We didn't know one another for a long period of time… but I loved you enough in those few months to last three lifetimes at least."

"Max… Maxime look at me. I. Am. Real. Open your goddamn eyes and see for yourself…"

There's the bossy woman I remember.

He finally did as she commanded and opened his eyes. As he looked up, he stared into her familiar green gaze. Blinking a few times, he waited for her to vanish but she stayed there, in front of him, a nervous smile on her lips and a hopeful gaze.

"Juliet? How… are you… How… JULIET?"

Max stood up and she sobbed out a breath as she launched herself into him. He caught her and his hands roamed all over her body as he tried to memorize each curve in case she disappeared again. He didn't understand it. She was dead. He'd seen the photos. Been there in person. The building had been demolished and… deep down he'd always wondered because there was never a body found. But they had said that with the explosion and everything… no remains…

She clung to him, her arms locked around him like she was sinking at sea and he was a buoy that could keep her afloat. Mumbling something into his suit jacket, he pulled away slightly and tipped her head back. Tear-stained cheeks, a red nose and a watery gaze stared up at him.

"What did you say?"

"I'm so sorry! I never wanted to leave you! Please believe me! I didn't have a choice.. I never had a choice!"

"I was there though. I saw the explosion… and… they faked your death? That's what Mac meant when he came to see me before!"

Juliet nodded slowly and he knew that he should be furious right now. He shouldn't want to have anything to do with her. But he also knew that this woman… she had meant more to him than any of the women who came before… or after. They'd all been there as a way to get over the loss of this one.

How many nights after that horrible morning did he beg and plead for it to be a nightmare that he was living through. That she had gotten out in time. How many times had he cried out 'Just give me one more chance!' and not gotten a response. He'd given up thinking that God could help him in any way after that. And the year they won the Cup, he played with the shoulder injury.

Surgery, therapy… he'd done everything right but hadn't been able to come back and play right that next season. And this year… he was better, but not where he wanted to be. And he'd cursed God for that as well. And he's sinned. Over and over. He'd slept with too many women. Each one he'd used like a crutch to try and get over his emotional and physical pain. It hadn't worked. They'd solved nothing.

And then Mac had come to visit him. He'd talked, asked Max to forgive him some day and told him to look inside himself to try and come back to the man he'd been before. So he'd looked at himself. And he hadn't liked what he saw. Changing his ways, he found himself no longer angry at the world. And now, by some miracle… she was here. In front of him. Telling him she had never wanted to leave him.

"I know it's a lot to process right now. And I know that you probably hate me right now. But… I came here for two reasons. The first one is simple. I love you. I've thought about you every single day that I've been gone. There were so many times I wanted to call you, send you a letter, ANYTHING! But it was forbidden. I kept all my thoughts in journals though. And when something would pop into my mind and I was somewhere else I used napkins, receipts… I have it all still."

She was biting her lip, a nervous habit that he remembered. Right now, as he stared at her, it just made him want to cover her mouth with his and kiss her senseless. She was right… it was a lot to take in, but he would figure it out. They both would. The only thing that could stop them now was if she'd found someone while…

"What's the second reason," he asked gruffly.

"You have to know, before I explain things… I didn't know if I was ever going to be able to see you again. If it would ever be safe for me to come out from my protection detail. I have lived a sheltered life for the past three and a half years. A lot has happened since I 'died' and I jus…"

She was interrupted by the door crashing open and a small bundle running through it screaming 'Momma, Momma, Momma!'

This was exactly what he had been thinking of when he'd ask what the second reason was. Juliet was a mother. He couldn't blame her for moving on. Sure, he hated that she had just said she loved him, and now she was holding the child she'd made with some other man. But it wasn't her fault. She had found a way to move on and make the best of this clusterfuck of a situation.

He wondered if the little girl looked like Juliet. He hoped so. She would be a heartbreaker when she grew up. Mac came running through the door a second later, stopping beside Juliet, his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.

"God she's a little heathen," he muttered with a smile. Then he turned to Max and the two shook hands. "This is why I hoped you'd be able to forgive me… her… our job… everything." He turned and held out his hands. "C'mon Viv, let's let Mommy talk."

Max stared at the man. That's why he'd wanted his forgiveness. Not because of 'The Incident,' but because he'd taken Juliet for himself. He still couldn't see the child's face, but he heard her mutter as she curled her arms around her mom's neck.

"No Unca Mac. I stay here, wif Momma."

Uncle Mac?

His heart started beating in his chest again. He still didn't know the whole truth, but he was breathing again. That was a good sign.

"Genevieve… what did Mommy tell you? Didn't I say to wait until it was time to come and get you?"

The little head, covered in a Winter Classic hat, bobbed up and down.

"Well, I suppose this works too," she said, mostly to herself, as she placed the little girl on her feet and crouched down with her. Max watched as she unbuttoned and unzipped the jacket. She tugged it off and he noticed the Talbot jersey with a smile. Then she tugged off the hat and a mass of dark brown curls fell everywhere. He watched her place a kiss on the child's forehead.

"Mommy… Can I say it now?"

"Let me introduce you first baby." Max watched her pick the child back up and as she spun her around, he felt the ground drop out from underneath him. "Max, this is Genevieve. Now you can say it. Just like we practiced."

Blue eyes stared at him. A smile so similar to his broke out over the girl's face and she brought a hand up and waved at him excitedly.

"Hi Daddy!"

He didn't move. He didn't sit down, he didn't even think he breathed. She looked just like him.

Max opened his mouth to tell her hello, to say something, anything… but no words came out. He closed his mouth and sat down on the bench, shoulders hunched. Looking up at the two of them… he couldn't begin to think of what he could say at the moment. Juliet let her little one go and she walked over to him. Her eyes were big and bright with that child-like innocence. She had a smile on her face and she touched his cheek.

"Daddy… why you crying?"

He tried to respond, to give her an answer, but he choked on the words. So instead, he slid off the bench and onto his knees before wrapping her up in the tightest hug he thought he could give her without crushing her. He held her head with one hand, keeping her cheek pressed to his. The tears were still falling and he probably made a couple unintelligible noises… but he couldn't help it.

He cried as he held his daughter for the first time. He cried for the lies Juliet had needed to live by in order to keep the two of them safe. He cried for the time lost to the two of them. Mainly, he cried for all those moments he'd missed with his daughter, watching her birth, her first steps, and her first words.

Arms wrapped around him and he looked up to see Juliet kneeling behind their daughter, trapping her between the two of them. She placed a hand on his other cheek and wiped the tears away with her thumb. He grabbed hold of her hand and held it tight as the three of them shared their first moment as a family. She murmured apology after apology and when he finally found his voice again he silenced her.

"This, all of this. It wasn't your fault. It wasn't my fault, it wasn't Mac's fault. None of us are to blame for this."

Mac cleared his throat.

"I'll take Viv out with me for a couple minutes. Give you a chance to talk some more. Come here Devil Child. We need to let Mommy and Daddy catch up, okay?"

Genevieve sighed loudly and Max couldn't stop the laugh that he barked out.

"Daddy happy! Okay, we go Unca Mac."

Max couldn't help but smile at her and he gasped in surprise and joy when she pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. He watched the two of them walk out and then he pulled Juliet directly onto his lap. She let out a squeak and threw an arm around his shoulder.

"I swear I have everything she ever did on film. I prayed that we could figure out a way to make something work. I don't know if you're seeing anyone and I know you must hate me right now bu…"

He couldn't listen to her berate herself anymore. And he had to taste her again. Dragging her face to his, he sealed her lips with a kiss. She tasted like he remembered, and like nacho cheese. That was new. It just made him remember that he hadn't eaten in about six hours. Instead of being romantic like he wanted to, his stomach took the time to growl as loud as possible. She pulled away with a laugh.

"Maybe we should get you some food."

"I love you." He watched her eyes go wide. "I do. There's never been anyone like you in my life. Not before you held Geno at gunpoint or since. I've done some things that I'm not proud of… but after the building exploded, I just didn't care. I wanted to make the pain stop. Nothing worked. I want you to know that there have been other women… I can't take that back. But I'm clean. And they meant nothing. And if you wanna slap me for that, go right ahead."

"Just tell me you don't hate me and that you want to get to know your daughter, and I won't remember anything else you say tonight," she said with a smile.

"I definitely do not hate you. And I would love nothing more than getting to know our daughter!"

They talked for a few more minutes, Juliet answering all the questions he fired at her. She could tell he was getting antsy by the way his knee was twitching and she chuckled. Crawling off of him, she held out her hand to help him up and they walked toward the door.

"Are you in a hurry to get food?"

"What? No! I want to go capture her in my arms and never let her go!"

"Then let's go get her. We'll grab some food and you can drop us off at the hotel."

"Hotel? Fuck that! We'll go to the hotel and grab your stuff… and then you and Viv are coming back to my house. No ands, ifs, or buts."

When they came out into the lounge area, Mac was standing with Cookey and Duper and Viv was running around with the other kids. They walked up to him and Duper gave him that perfect 'What have you been hiding from us' look. He was just about to tell them a team explanation would be best when and eardrum-piercing scream filled the air.

"JULIET?"

Max heard the click of heeled footsteps and turned just in time to be shoved out of the way as a little brunette blur ran past him and tackled Juliet, sending them both to the ground. When he turned again, Marc was standing there, his eyes wide and confusion clearly written on his face. Mario came in behind them, a small smile on his lips. Slowly… each of the guys came in as well. When they were all standing there, puzzled looks on their faces, Max cleared his throat.

Juliet finally extricated herself from Vero's arms and grabbed Genevieve before coming to stand beside him. He heard some gasps as they got a look at his daughter and he saw questions ready to be asked. Max held up a hand before they could start.

"Some of you know the story about a woman named Juliet, and what she meant to me. And how I fell in love with her one summer. And how she was taken away from me. It seems that somehow, a way I haven't really been told yet, she didn't die. Guys… This is Miss Juliet Forbes. And the little one in her arms is Genevieve Forbes."

"Talbot," Juliet whispered to him. He looked at her in surprise. "Her name is Genevieve Marie Talbot."

Tears clogged his vision again and Max wiped at his eyes before they could fall. It wouldn't be very manly to cry in front of all the guys. Juliet grabbed his hand and he smiled.

"My mistake. This is our daughter, Genevieve. Ladies, these are the Pittsburgh Penguins."

Introductions were made and the next thirty minutes were spent with Juliet and Mac explaining everything that happened and why she'd been hiding and what could happen now.

"So, you can be wherever you want," Flower asked. Max stared. Unblinking, as Juliet's face slipt into a huge smile.

"That's right. Wherever I want to be."

"Which is right here with me. And that's that."

Max grabbed her after he said it and held her face in his hands while he plundered her mouth. When the kiss was finally over, and he'd pulled back, he realized that there were only a few people milling about the lounge. He didn't care that he'd scared them away. He had a lot of time to make up for. And he planned on reacquainting himself with this woman. Tonight, and for the rest of his life.

Author's Note: So... That's it. The end. I would like to do an epilogue... but my muse has seemed to vanish from this project... so until she decides to come back, I must leave you with this* I hope you've enjoyed the ride!