A/N: Here's another chapter. Sorry for the delay. Hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: Characters property of ABC. Story all mine. No infringement intended.

Chapter 37

Anna and Felicia sat at the table sipping Earl Grey and eating tea cakes that afternoon, while Mac and Noah took a trip to the hardware store. Mac had realized that there was a leak around one of the front windows during the last rain storm and this was the first opportunity to repair it. Noah had agreed to accompany him to the store and give the women a little time to talk.

"It will all work out," Anna said directly.

Felicia leaned back in her chair and sighed. "I hope so. I don't know what I can do to change her opinion other than to just be here. Maxie will have to talk to me sooner or later, but right now I can't even get her to show up in places where she knows I am."

"That will come with time," Anna replied placing a comforting hand over Felicia's. "When she realizes that you are here to stay, she'll realize that she wants to spend some time with you."

Hours later, Maxie sat up and went to the kitchen for a glass of wine. After they'd gotten back to Matt's, they had spent the rest of the day dozing and watching movies. It was a lazy day and Maxie had utterly enjoyed just being with Matt. He was sensitive and funny, not to mention handsome and he was all hers. Maxie wondered how she'd gotten so lucky and she was determined not to ruin this relationship.

"Maxie?" Matt called groggily.

"In the kitchen," she replied, waiting for him to respond.

Instead, moments later, she felt his arms wrap around her waist and pull her back into his chest.

"What are you doing in here? I missed you," Matt whispered in her ear.

She grinned at his words and then tilted her head to give him better access as he nuzzled her neck. "I was gone for less than five minutes."

"Five minutes too long." He turned her in his arms and captured her lips in a kiss that quickly took her breath away. Matt pulled his lips from hers to follow the line of her neck and ran his hands up and down her back, finally grasping her behind and dragging her into his body, where she felt the evidence of his arousal.

All thought flew from Maxie's mind, as a slew of sensations assaulted her. She lifted her leg curving it around Matt's hip in an attempt to get closer to him. As Maxie felt all her control vanish, Matt pulled back and as quickly as the fire started it was dampened.

"What?" she cried breathlessly when he pressed a soft kiss to her temple then touched her forehead with his.

"I didn't mean to jump you that way."

"You didn't hear me complaining did you?" she asked with a grin

"No, but we had this talk last night and I wanted to wait until it was just us."

"It is just us," she replied cupping his face and leaning back to hold his gaze. "I wanted to make love with you before my mother showed up and that hasn't changed."

"Are you sure? Once we do this, we can't go back."

"I don't want to go back," she returned nuzzling his neck.

He leaned back giving her better access and moaned, "Neither do I."

"I know. I just want to be with you."

She kissed him and slid a hand under his t-shirt relishing the tremor she felt as her hand came in contact with warm silky skin. Matt followed her example and moved to cup her breast, before pushing her shirt up and off her. When they both moaned at the feelings that practically overcame them, Matt lifted Maxie into his arms so that her legs straddled his waist and turned toward the bedroom.

"You've got me."

"Robin, come to bed." Patrick watched as Robin moved around their bedroom after looking in on Emma.

"Patrick, I just don't understand why Maxie won't even give her mom a chance." Robin climbed into bed next to Patrick and rolled into his arms.

"Do you remember how you felt when your dad showed up after years of thinking he was dead? Do you remember how angry you were that he'd been out there and hadn't contacted you?" Patrick asked, tilting Robin's face back and giving her a moment to process. "Well, stop for a minute and think of how Maxie must feel knowing that her mother is very much alive and just chose not to remain a part of her life. I know how I felt estranged from my father for all those years after my mother died and it's horrible to think you aren't enough for a parent to want to just be there for you. I can't say I blame Maxie."

"I don't blame her. I just don't want Maxie to miss out on what could be a great mother-daughter relationship. I just think Felicia is sincere and truly wants to be here now for Maxie."

"She may, but Maxie is the one she has to prove that to."

Mac looked at a dejected Felicia and couldn't leave her alone as he'd planned to. He didn't want to get used to her being there as he fully expected her to leave soon no matter what she said. He also didn't want to feel anything but sorry for her, however, that was obviously not going to happen.

"She'll come around," Mac said to the utter despair he saw in her eyes.

"I don't think so, but thanks for saying it," Felicia replied with a soft, sad smile that broke Mac's heart.

"Maxie is still angry and she can hold a grudge, but you can break through that. She loves you. That's why she's so hurt and angry." Why he felt the need to try making Felicia feel better he didn't know. What he did know was that he couldn't help himself.

"I can't break through if she won't talk to me," Felicia complained.

"So what are you going to do about that?"

Felicia took a deep breath and met his eyes. "I'm going to stay around where she'll have to face me eventually."

"How long are you planning to be around?" he asked sure that it would only be long enough to get through to Maxie.

"I'm here to stay. I told you that," she said directly. "I guess I have a lot to prove to you as well."

"How do you think Felicia is doing?" Anna asked Noah where they were curled together on the sofa sipping sparkling grape juice listening to Jazz.

"I don't know her that well, but she appeared to be struggling this morning. I mean, breakfast was great, but every time I glanced her way, I caught her looking at the empty chairs at the table," Noah replied, sitting his glass on the side table, before wrapping his arm around Anna. "I remember what it felt like to have both my sons not want to have anything to do with me. It was awful."

"Maxie is going to see that her mother is not leaving again and then she'll cut her a break."

"Don't get your hopes up. Maxie has been hurt and that doesn't just go away. It's going to take her some time."

"I know. I just hate to see Maxie and Felicia hurting when they could have so much more."

"I know. They remind me a lot of Matt and me. I love him and while we're building a relationship, it's slow."

"You and Matt love and respect each other. That's clear. The problem is that Matt's afraid to get too close to you in case he's not good enough or as good as Patrick."

"What?" Noah asked with a frown. "Good enough for what? Why wouldn't he be as good as Patrick?"

Anna sighed, before answering.

"Matt is his own worst critic and he expects that he should be as good a doctor as you and Patrick."

"He is. He doesn't have the same level of experience that we do, but he's every bit as good."

"You know that, but does he?" she asked and waited a moment before continuing, "Have you ever told him that?"

"No. It's never come up."

"Well, when you get an opportunity, you should make a point to let him know."

"I will," he answered looking down into her eyes before he kissed her.

"What was that for?" she asked breathlessly.

"Thank you for helping me understand my son a little better."

"You're welcome. I love both your sons. They are good men."

"I may be a little biased, but I couldn't agree more."

Matt laid Maxie on the bed and followed her down, trailing a series of kisses down her neck as he slid the bra strap from her shoulder. Maxie gripped Matt's shirt and arched into him trying to get closer. As their mouths fused together, they quickly discarded the rest of their clothes and spent time getting acquainted with all those places that made each of them gasp with pleasure.

Matt finally joined with Maxie when they could no longer stand being apart. When he was completely inside her and they couldn't tell where one began and the other ended, Matt stopped moving. Maxie writhed against him, but he held steady until their eyes met.

"Matt," she moaned and gripped his shoulders.

"You're beautiful," he whispered back. "The most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

"So are you," she replied softly, gasping as he pushed deeper.

As their eyes held, Matt began to move slowly, driving Maxie slowly insane. She grasped him tighter and met each thrust as she was overwhelmed by the feelings rushing at her. Matt watched as her eyes closed and she flew over the cliff. He held on to his own passion determined to watch her peak again before he found his own release.

As she came down from her high, Matt started thrusting again. Maxie's eyes flew open and connected with Matt's unable to do anything more than moan as he carried her to a place where only they existed. Just as they reached completion together, Maxie gasped, "I love you."