I'm Only Me When I'm With You

Disclaimer - Dark Angel is not mine, nor do i claim to own it

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWS!

"So how are things going with you and Alec?" Kendra asked while settling herself down on the sofa in Max's apartment.

"Great"

"How's living with him?"

Max smiled "its ok"

"Ok?" Kendra asked with a raised eyebrow and gave her friend a look "he's just messy"

"Messy?"

Max nodded "he leaves things lying at his ass" Kendra looked around and could see some of Alec's clothes thrown all over the place "it annoys me" Max stated with a shrug "but I love him so I put up with it"

"Awe!, cute" Kendra smirked "shut up" Max demanded "I'm not cure"

"Was talking about your boyfriend"

"He's not cute" Kendra waited "he's gorgeous"

Kendra sighed "Yeah" the look Kendra had on her face caused Max to raise her eyebrows "you thinking about my boyfriend?"

"Have you met anyone who doesn't?"

Max thought about it for a few moments then shook her head "no" she laughed "so where is he?"

"At work, he's working with his dad"

"Miss him?"

Max shook her head "no, don't get time to really, while he's at work I'm usually at uni"

"Thought he said something about going back?"

"He did but then decided that working with his dad made more sense, more money as he put it"

"Are you coming out tonight?"

Max shrugged "I'll see what Alec is doing"

Kendra rolled her eyes "what?" Max asked noticing "you'll ask Alec?" Max nodded "when did you need permission to come out with your friends?"

"I don't"

"So are you coming out tonight?"

"Yes" Max said eventually "I'll meet you at crash"

"Without Alec? I love him but really we need some girly time"

"Without Alec" Max promised.

"Good" Kendra stood up and brushed off her pants "see you at 8?"

"Eight" Max promised, hugging her goodbye.

It was her day off from University and Alec had been gone before she had woken up, so Max went to visit him at work, he wouldn't mind, nor would his father.

"Hi I'm here to see Alec McDowell" Max told the receptionist "13th floor" she said with a smile "thanks" Max smiled then made her way to the elevator.

"Alec McDowell?" she asked the next receptionist she came to on the 13th floor "just through there" the receptionist pointed at the third door on the left, she didn't bother to knock instead she pushed open the door and walked in.

"Am I interrupting something?" Max asked, Alec was sitting with his back to her while some blonde chick was sitting in what must have been his chair, Alec whirled around and his eyes widened "Max?"

"Last time I checked" Alec moved away from the table and walked towards her "what are you doing here?"

"Came to see my boyfriend" she said looking at the blonde in his chair "bad time?"

"No"

"No?" Max wasn't convinced "you looked busy"

"Never too busy for you" he told her with a lopsided smirk, he bent down intent on kissing her but at the last second she turned her head to the side "I'll leave you two alone" the blonde said standing up from the chair and making her way towards the door.

"Don't go because of me"

She stopped and looked at Alec, as did Max, Alec's eyes widened as he suddenly realised what Max was thinking "Max no"

"No? What do you mean no?"

"She's my cousin" Alec said quickly, Max's mouth formed a small 'O' shape and she smiled nervously "your cousin?"

Alec nodded "yeah remember, last time you would have seen her was when you were 12"

"Jenna?"

The blonde girl smiled "good to see you Max"

"You too" Max hugged the girl "sorry for the way I acted just then" Jenna waved it off "It's good, your protective over your boyfriend"

"Yeah" Max said blushing a little "I'll leave you too alone, see you later Max"

"Bye" Max waited until the door was closed before she turned back to Alec and threw her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply "I'm sorry" she said once the pulled apart.

"Don't worry about it"

Max shook her head "I trust you"

"I know" Alec said but still he pulled away from her and walked back to his desk, sitting down on his chair he looked out his window.

"Alec…"

"4 years I never touched another girl and you think now that I'm back? That I've got you, I'll cheat?"

Max shook her head "I'd never cheat on you Max" Max walked over to him and slipped onto his lap before he could push her away "I know" she pressed her lips against his "I love you"

"I love you too" he smiled and everything was forgotten "what brings you by?"

"I woke up to an empty bed and I missed you"

"Sorry dad wanted my help looking at new things he wants to buy" Max nodded "when do you think I'll wake up and you'll be there?"

"Tomorrow"

"Promise?"

"I promise"

"Ok" she kissed him and tried to get off his lap but he kept his arms wrapped around her "where you going?"

"Home"

"Stay here?"

"Alec you have work" Alec looked at the desk and grinned and Max shook her head "not going to happen" she stated reading his thoughts "spoil sport"

"You love me" she stood up and put distance between them "see you at home, don't be too late"

"I won't" he promised.

Alec arrived home and just after 6 and he wasn't alone, Jenna was with him.

Max lifted her eyebrows "what…?"

Alec pulled off his jacket "come here" he motioned for her to follow him into the bedroom "be right back" he said to Jenna.

"What is she doing here?"

"I told her she could stay for a couple days" Max sighed "Why?"

"She's not here for long"

"Alec!" Max whined "why can't she stay with your parents?"

"Want me to tell her to go?"

Max shook her head "No its fine, 2 days!"

"2 days"

"Be fun, saves us getting fed up of each others company"

"I'm going out"

"Where?"

"Crash"

"Why?"

"Because i want to"

"Fine" he turned her back on her and walked out of the room.

It was 7.45 and Max was just getting ready to leave, Alec still wasn't talking to her "gonna give me a ride?" she asked his back but he didn't answer "fine, don't wait up"

She slammed the door on her way out.

"Is this because I'm here?" Jenna asked and Alec shook his head "No, she just didn't tell me she was going out"

"Why should she?"

Alec glared at his cousin "she doesn't have to but I had something planned"

"What?"

Alec walked over to his jacket and pulled out a box "was going to ask her to marry me" he opened the box and showed her the ring "booked a restaurant and hotel but she's away to hang out with her friends"

"Why did you tell me I could stay?"

"Thought you could have looked after the apartment while we were gone" he smirked "good to know you find me to useful, what you going to do now?"

Alec shrugged "re plan"

"Good plan!" Jenna flung her arm over his shoulder "let's watch TV"

Alec nodded and sat down on the sofa beside his cousin.

Alec was still up when Max came home, it was late and he was tired but he didn't want to go to bed without her "told you not to wait up" Max said in a harsh tone "Max" his voice was soft and he tried to reach for her but she stepped away "leave me alone"

Hurt flashed through his eyes "I'm sorry"

"Don't care" Max was away from him and into the bathroom. Alec groaned but knew there was no point in talking to her because she wasn't in the mood and they would only end up arguing and it would end up worse than it was, so he went to bed.

Max walked into the bedroom 10 minutes later Alec was on his stomach, his face turned towards the wall she didn't know if he was asleep or not.

She picked up his jacket, throwing it onto his side of the bedroom because it was currently lying on top of her pyjamas a small black box fell out.

Bending down she picked it up, suddenly she was finding it hard to breathe, it was a ring box, she wanted to open it but she couldn't bring herself to "Alec" as she suspected he ignored her "Alec!"

This time he faced her "what's this?" she asked holding up the box.

"What do you think it is?" he asked in a bitter tone, Max bit her lip nervously as Alec slipped out of bed and made his way towards her, he took the box from her hand and slowly opened it.

A/N - Tell me what you think!