A/N: Don't think it's done. I know you all want a happy ending so here it is. And please stop crying.

Fang

1800

I opened my eyes and took a deep breath. The sweet smell of the pine trees clung in the air as I struggled to sit up. Where the hell am I? Turning my head to look around, I saw stones. Everywhere. Then; I'm back.

Wasn't that the exact epitome of happiness? Yeah, no. Everything came back to me: Max's smile, her kisses, her tears, Adriana. Why the hell do I remember everything? What happened to Max? Did Adriana die?

I hurriedly took the guitar off of me and stood up. I didn't bother pausing to let the headrush slide but I wanted to get out of the room as soon as possible.

I fumbled with the knob and I resorted to kicking the door open instead. It fell broken in front of me and I smirked and jumped over it. I was racing down the stairs at five steps each time. I was out of the tower in seconds.

I ran back to the castle, unaware of the whispering ladies and gentlemen all around the tower. I caught a voice and turned; people were staring at me in a weird way. I looked down at my clothes- THERE WERE PEOPLE.

I slowly approached an elderly man and asked him, "How long have I been gone?"

He took out his pocket watch and looked at the time. "Have no clue. Did you leave your own celebration, sir?" My celebration? Sir?

Only then did I notice the hundreds of people staring at me with worry and curiosity. Then I looked down at my clothes. I was wearing the same clothes when Max woke me up. Max... I pushed that thought in the back of my mind and started to walk to the castle.

I heard a shout from above me, "ALEJANDRO!" I craned my neck to see and it was my mother. My mother...! "What are you doing outside? Come inside!" My heart ached as I continued to look at her. Then I smiled.

Keeping the smile on my face, I walked in the castle and all I heard was an orchestra of applause and shouts. I stood frozen near the door until my mother took a hold of my arm and brought me inside. I turned my head to look at her. I must have on my dumb face because she narrowed her eyes and said in a low voice, "Do not give me that idiotic look. Smile!"

I blinked a few times and did what she told me to do.

I was back.

Why then was my heart beating so hard and trying to rip itself apart?

I took a sip of my brandy and looked at the world through my glass. All people of all ages were having fun, laughing, dancing, singing; yet I was the only one who wasn't in the mood. I kept thinking about Max; what could she be doing now? Will she still remember me?

I closed my eyes and imagined myself back in Max's condo, writing on my notebook and watching Max read her classics on the loveseat. God, I missed her. I felt a hand on my shoulder so I opened my eyes and turned my head.

I looked up to the proud eyes of my mother, my beautiful mother who was now giddy because of the three glasses of red wine she drank an hour ago. "Alejandro, I'd like you to meet someone." I swear I saw her sway on her feet.

I was immediately on my feet, my arms around her, before she hit the floor. "Mother, let me sit you down. I will meet whoever you want me to meet later."

She patted her fan on my arm. "No, no. You will meet her now. Do you remember the Earl of Bernwick from London?"

"Bernwick?" I repeated because it sounded familiar. Not really.

She vigorously nodded her head. "Yes, your godfather. He died last week. His daughter - should I say the Countess - paid a visit."

I scrunched up my face and shooed away a waiter before Mother could take another glass of wine. "Why now?"

"You're marrying her."

Oh, facepalm. "Mother, you know I have had enough of your matchmaking-"

Mother's fingers pressed my lips together to shut me up. "Hush! You are already twenty-one years old and I need grandchildren! I so envy my friends with their stories of their packs of grandchildren!"

I sighed, took her fan, and fanned her with it. Her face was turning bright red. Just then, I heard a voice behind me say, "Here."

I turned and I swear I almost kissed her. She looked exactly like Max except she was wearing the tightest brown riding suit ever. And she was offering me a glass of water.

I took it and stared at her for a moment longer. She was fiddling with the hem of her blazer and was looking anywhere but at me. I turned back to Mother and lifted her to a sitting position.

"Mother, here's more wine." Mother's mouth opened instantly and in seconds she gulped down the water. I handed the glass back to Max-doppelganger without turning for fear of passing out at the sight of her.

I swear she looked exactly like Max. And she was wearing skinny breeches that it was almost like her second skin. I stood up from my kneeling position and turned back to her. I looked down at her black leather books then my eyes traveled up to her velvety brown eyes.

Max, is that you?

"I take it you are the daughter of the late Earl of Bernwick?" I asked her. You know, to start the conversation and break the awkward silence.

She nodded and crossed her arms. I noticed the loose messy bun her thick dirty-blond hair was confined in and I thought, That is so like Max.

"What is your name?"

She met my eyes and my voice was caught in my throat. "Maxine." Shit.

Max, Max, Max. I saw her just by looking at her neutral-colored clothing, those boots, and the messy bun. I flashed her one of my cocky grins. "May I call you Max?"

Shock was written all over her pretty face. Damn, damn, damn. "How did you know that?"

I shrugged and took hold of her hand. I looked down; she wasn't wearing any gloves. I let the electricity of the touch flow through my body. I felt her shiver. She felt it too.

"Let go of my hand, sir."

I squeezed her hand and held it tighter. We walked out of the party and into the gardens in front of the tower. Thankfully no one was there.

"Sir!"

I stopped in the middle of the garden just behind the fountain and swung her in front of me. She pushed the hair from her eyes and took a deep breath. The action made her bosom more prominent. I just had to look down. I returned my eyes back to her face so as not to look perverted.

"What gave you the right to drag me out of that party?" Yes, the same anger was flashing in her eyes.

I smirked at her. Oh, hell. "Marry me."

The anger left her eyes and was replaced by pure curiosity. "What?"

"Marry me and I'll love you forever."

She put a hand on her hip and glared at me. "You arrogant son of a- I came here because your mother invited me. And you show me this?"

"Now, Max-"

"Do not call me by that name!" Her anger was staining her cheeks red and her lips too. Kiss her, damn it.

"Max, my mother invited you here because she wants me to marry you and have my grandchildren."

She gasped. "I will not marry a man who dragged me by force and almost bruised my wrist!"

I took a hold of her wrist and kissed it. "Better?"

The red stain turned into an even deeper color of red. "You, sir, are uncooth. Let go of my wrist."

My smirk deepened. "You should know you are free to take your hand."

She blinked and pulled her hand away. "Sir, I don't know what your parents are planning, but it is not going to happen."

I shrugged but I gave her one of my I-will-have-you looks. I bent down and whispered on her ear, "There are about three hundred people in this household and gossip travels faster than you can ride a horse."

"You won't have me," she whispered back on my ear. I couldn't help but shiver at her warm breath on my neck.

My right hand took hold of her left hand. With a flick of my wrist, my fingers twisted with hers.

"I will have you because I know you and I love you." I lightly bit her earlobe. She gasped and I chuckled low on my throat.

"I've never met you in my entire life. How can you say you love me?"

I pulled away and rested my forehead to hers. "Believe me, I know you. Marry me." My lips were just millimeters from hers.

I looked down at her lips form her words. "Never in a million years, Alejandro."

The way she said my name and rolled her R's turned me on. "Let me kiss you."

She shook her head. "People are starting to look. Let go of me."

I grinned and rubbed my nose on her cheek. "Let them see the lovestruck couple who can't seem to take their hands off of each other. Let them talk."

"You, sir-" She stopped what she was saying because I took her mouth. A second later, I pulled back.

"You were saying?" I raised an eyebrow.

Her pink tongue snaked out and wetted her lips. "I still say no."

"Shall I make you change your mind?" There it was. I saw it.

"I dare you to try," her warm brown eyes were glittering with humor.

"Challenge accepted."

I then proceeded to ravish her.

Somewhere back inside the castle

Alejandro's father watched as his son took hold of the countess and kissed her. A proud grin lit up on the father's face.

"So when is the wedding?" Maxine's mother appeared to his right and asked the question. Who was also grinning in excitement.

"How about next Sunday?"

She raised an eyebrow. "How about today?"

"That would be too soon."

She jerked her head to the two lovebirds outside who were ravishing each other. "See how they have not stopped exchanging saliva. Think they could keep their hands off of each other in a week? You can be sure you will have a grandchild born in less than nine months."

Alejandro's father laughed out loud. "Oh, the wonders of love at first sight."

Maxine's mother shook her head. "No. It's the wonders of true love."

"Maybe."

A/N: Thank you for putting up with my useless hiatuses and laziness! I'll be back soon with a new story. RnR?