Author's Note:
Thanks, friend. You know who you are.
Chapter 30
Max and Chloe
"Did you ever think we'd be back here?" Chloe said, sporting an oddly melancholy expression.
Max gave her a look. "Chloe, we were here like, three months ago."
"I know, dude." The melancholiness vanished, replaced by the usual mischievous grin. "I'm just kidding."
"But still," Chloe continued, "Even if it's three months, or three years, or whatever… coming home always feels weird."
"Weird? How so?"
"I dunno, Max. Can't describe it. It just is."
Max laid a hand over Chloe's, which was itself resting on the gear stick.
"Good weird?" She asked.
Chloe flashed her a quick smile. "With you, it always is."
They drove on, past a large, hand painted blue sign that bore the eternally familiar 'Greetings from Arcadia Bay'.
The town was lively. Bustling, even. The rebuild of five years before had, ironically, injected new life into the town - through forced diversification if nothing else.
The disaster had brought new contractors, companies, and commerce into the Bay, shaking loose the decades-long grip the Prescotts had held upon almost the entire town's livelihoods and businesses. Now, the town was thriving. Even the fish had come back to the Bay, and whales were a regular sight out in the waters - lending a large boost in business to Moby Deck tours, much to the continued glee of its proprietor.
As they drove through the town, Max observed all this with a wistful smile. It was nice, seeing everything doing well. Even Chloe, who still held slight reservations about the Bay, had previously admitted it didn't suck as much.
"I know it'll be kind of a detour," Chloe said, "But, wanna hit up Blackhell? See what shit's like there now?"
"Sure, why not?" Max answered. "It'll be nice to see the place again."
Chloe took the next left, leading them away from the main thoroughfare and up Arcadia Bay's moderate inclines, heading along roads lined with evergreen pine trees and the occasional golden-leafed tree, towards the all-too-familiar red bricked academy.
It didn't take long, even with the still-prevalent activity of a semester only one month in. Soon enough, Chloe's truck was forced to slow to a crawl as they navigated throngs of eager new students.
"Man, this brings back memories." Max said as they got out of the truck. "Being a student here already feels like a lifetime ago."
"Dude, you're not that old." Chloe pointed out. "Hell, you could probably still pass for one if you wanted."
"Are you saying I still look like a teenager?" Max canted her hip, crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.
"Nah, you just got good genes." Chloe answered immediately.
"Nice save."
"Thanks."
"Anyway." Chloe nodded across towards the quad. "How about we go check out the dorms? You know, for old time's sake."
"Sure, why not?"
Max took her hand, and the two women strolled across the campus towards the dorms, a path that was still intimately familiar to both of them.
"Huh. It hasn't changed a bit." Said Max as they rounded the corner.
"Yeah, you're right." Chloe agreed. "Even the paint looks the same."
"Samuel probably keeps it looking fresh." Max pointed out. "I swear he never misses anything."
"True."
They wandered languidly across the lawn in front of the dorms. No one paid them any attention, focused as they were on their friend cliques if they were in a group, or their individual activities if they were on their own.
"Well, there's your window." Chloe pointed at the all-too familiar structure. "Hey, remember that time I tried climbing up to it and fell on my ass?"
"I remember you bitched for a week because you bruised, like, your entire butt."
"Yeah, good times…" Chloe said, rather wistfully.
"So many memories." Max echoed. "Some good. Some… not so much."
Max swallowed, the events of years gone by flashing through her brain. "Honestly, I don't think I'll ever forget the horror here."
"Me too." Chloe replied. She threw an arm around Max's shoulder, drawing the shorter woman close. "But hey, we made some good memories, right? Like, we totally banged Kate in there."
"Chloe!" Max whisper hissed. "Not so loud!"
"Relax, Maxipad. No one here knows us. Plus, it's a good memory. And like, there's all the movie nights we had in there, and all the times we just hung out, or all the times I helped you study-"
"If by 'helping me study' you mean distracting me at every possible second because you were bored, hungry, horny, or all three, you're exactly right."
"A gal does her best." Chloe grinned.
"I'd be surprised if you did your best at anything, Price." A voice, laden down with sardonism, sounded behind them.
As one, they turned.
There, resplendent in an immaculate and probably extremely expensive blouse, a killer pencil skirt and - somewhat surprisingly - a silk bow tie, stood Victoria Chase, smiling warmly.
"Vicky!" Max exclaimed.
"Maxine fucking Caulfield." Victoria stated. "C'mere." She said, and drew Max into a tight hug, even going so far as to give Chloe one as well.
"What are you doing here?" Max asked when both hugs had ended.
"You first." Victoria insisted. "I have my reasons, but last I heard, you two were in Portland playing house. How is it up there, by the way?"
"Actually pretty great. I'm working in a photography studio with like, actual models." Max beamed.
"You still shooting analogue?"
"I switched to a DSLR for my job, but I still shoot Polaroid when I can. I even sell some of my shots as a little side business."
"Nice." Vicky nodded in approval. "Shooting models is no slouch. Now how about you, Price?"
"Tattoo artist." Chloe said. "A pretty fuckin' great one, too." She declared proudly.
At that, Victoria raised her eyebrow.
"Don't believe me? Show her, Max."
Max dutifully pushed her sleeve up, exposing her forearm, on which was displayed a stylised, but still incredibly detailed, tattoo of Max's first ever Polaroid camera, emblazoned with the immortal phrase 'Always take the shot'.
"Okay, I'll admit. That's pretty fucking good." Victoria conceded.
"I know, right?" Chloe said, smirking.
"Anyway." Vicky moved swiftly onward. "Why are you back in the Bay?"
"It's our fifth anniversary." Max smiled broadly.
"And you chose to spend the day here?"
"Yep." Chloe said.
"Why?"
Max shrugged. "Nostalgia, mostly, and since it's kind of a milestone, we figured going back to where our relationship began was, well, fitting. We're gonna drop in on Chloe's mom and surprise her as well."
"That's sweet."
"We think so too." Max briefly rested her head on Chloe's shoulder.
"What about you, Chase?" Chloe continued. "What're you doing back at Blackhell?"
"Oh, just teaching here." Victoria said nonchalantly, making a show of examining her nails.
Two jaws dropped simultaneously.
"Teaching?!" Max blurted out.
"Yes, teaching. Photography, in fact." Victoria said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"You. But… How?"
Victoria shrugged. "They asked me to come and cover six months as a favour. Their previous teacher broke their leg, and as one of their most prestigious alums-"
Chloe snorted, more out of old habits than anything. Even so, Victoria shot her a look.
"-they invited me to sub their position until they returned. Only, he chose to retire early, and the faculty were so impressed with my performance they offered me a permanent position. Which I of course accepted." Victoria finished, beaming with pride.
"Well, I'm hella happy for you. Your students are in great hands." Max said in approval.
"Oh I know." Vicky said, in a stunning display of humbleness, causing Chloe to roll her eyes for completely unrelated reasons.
"So how's Kate?" Max ventured. "I usually talk to her pretty regularly, but I haven't heard from her recently."
"Oh, that." Vicky waved a hand dismissively. "We broke up."
"WHAT?!" Max and Chloe shouted in unison.
Vicky shrugged, but then, after a few seconds, broke into giggles.
"Relax, I was just kidding. Both of you can calm your tits."
"Not cool, Vicky." Max pointed out.
"Maybe not to you, but it was funny to me. But anyway, we're doing great. We moved in with each other a few months ago, and we were going to wait until it was finished before telling you, but Kate's actually working on her first children's book right now."
"Oh that's amazeballs." Max said, beaming, while Chloe nodded in approval.
"I may have used some of the clout my family name carries and cajoled a few publishers into looking at her illustrations. Thankfully, one of them thought they looked great, and now Kate has a book deal."
"Nice." Chloe chimed in. "I bet you're hella proud of her."
"Unbelievably so." Victoria confirmed. "I insisted on taking her out for dinner and drinks. I even got her to wear a dress."
"Aww, that sounds adorable."
"We definitely ate out, too." Vicky said with a wink.
"I mean, yeah, you went to dinn- ohh." Max said, in sudden realisation. "Vicky no."
"Vicky yes." Victoria countered. "Besides, I've got you two to thank for Kate being as buck wild in bed as she is."
Max's eyes went as wide as dinner plates. "I - uh - I don't-" She stammered. Even Chloe blushed and looked away.
"Girls. Chill. It's fine." Victoria reassured them. "So what if the three of you all fucked? It was before her and I got together, and from what she's told me, it really made her more confident."
"But - we left her to tell you - and I know I advised her to do that but I figured she or you would've talked to us-" Max said, struggling to not let her words tumble over one another.
"Max." Victoria interrupted. "It's okay. Really."
"But she's your girlfriend." Max insisted. "Just leaving her to tell you was shitty of us."
"Oh for the love of-" Victoria rolled her eyes. "Chloe, come here. Max is clearly incapable of processing this."
"Sure," Chloe began, "But why do you need me to - mmph!"
Before she could finish her sentence, Vicky grabbed Chloe's jacket collar and pulled her in for a brief-but-searing kiss.
For the second time in ten minutes, Max's jaw dropped.
"Are we good?" Victoria asked when her and Chloe's lips parted, leaving the punk looking flabbergasted. "I'm sorry I didn't ask beforehand by the way, but it was the only way I could think of to get Caulfield to shut up."
"I - wow - yeah, we're good." Chloe stammered, still looking stunned.
Victoria looked at Max, who was now impersonating a fish.
"Max?"
"I don't." Max began. "That was."
"Yes?"
"Uh."
"Come on, use your words, Caulfield."
"You kissed Chloe."
"Yes, I did. Because I was setting the record straight."
"But we both slept with Kate." Max pointed out.
Victoria paused and thought for a moment, tapping an elegant finger on her chin.
"You know what? You have a point there." She said. "Chloe?"
"Go right ahead." Chloe replied having already guessed Victoria's intentions.
"Thanks."
The next thing Max knew, Vicky had cupped Max's face in her hands and delivered to her an equally blistering kiss.
For a second, she thought she saw stars.
"There." Vicky said when the kiss ended. "Now we're all equal. Everyone's kissed everyone else."
"I'll be honest, not what I expected to happen today." Max mused.
Vicky simply winked.
"I'll be honest too," Chloe said, "After a few beers, I'd probably let you do more than kiss me, Chase."
"Chloe no." Max and Victoria said in unison.
Chloe shrugged, accepting defeat.
"Anyway, I gotta run." Victoria said. "Places to go, classes to teach. But it was genuinely nice seeing you two."
"You as well." Max stepped in for a quick hug. "And say hi to Kate for us."
"Oh, I definitely will." Victoria grinned like a particularly elegant fox. "She's going to love this."
"Well, that was a thing." Said Chloe as they idled back to the truck.
"You can say that again." Max replied.
"Well, that was a thing." Chloe repeated.
"Did you have to?"
"Yup." Chloe gave a trademark shit-eating-grin. "Still," she continued, "I mean, that was one hell of a kiss. I meant what I said about letting her do stuff to me if I was drunk enough."
"What, are my kisses not good enough?" Max gently teased her.
"Of course they are." Chloe replied, completely unfazed. "You know exactly what they do to me. Plus like, you were the one talking about how much you wanted to French the chick at the bar when we got drunk last week."
"Fair." Max said as they reached the truck. "She was hella cute though."
"Mm." Chloe made a vague noise of acknowledgement.
"Chlo, are you still thinking about the kiss Vicky gave you?"
"... No?"
"That's it." Max declared. "I need to reclaim my honour. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Truck makeouts?"
"Truck makeouts." Max nodded.
As soon as Chloe opened the door, Max tackled her into the truck, pinning her down onto the seat.
"Fuck yeah." Chloe breathed, seconds before Max's lips collided with her own. Whereas the kiss from Vicky had been nice in how explosive it was, nothing could compare to the way Max kissed her: at once slow and sensual, but also fiery and passionate.
"Honour - hgnh - definitely reclaimed." Chloe breathed when Max started peppering her jawline with butterfly kisses.
"Oh no, you're not getting off that easy." Max declared.
"Haha, 'getting off'." Chloe giggled.
"Okay, just for that…" Max's eyes narrowed.
Chloe quite literally shivered in anticipation.
Max's fingers went for the hem of Chloe's shirt, and immediately dragged it up Chloe's stomach. In no time at all, it had been removed entirely, leaving Chloe in only a black bra.
"Dude, we're kind of in public." Chloe pointed out.
"Exactly." Max grinned. "Bra off. Now."
"Okay, but if we get caught, you're paying the fine." Chloe said, before undoing the front-facing clip.
Max nodded, barely paying attention to what she was saying as Chloe removed the bra entirely and dumped it on the floor of the truck.
Max bit her lip. No matter how many times she saw them, Chloe's breasts were hypnotic. As usual, she was so entranced she didn't notice Chloe was saying something.
"What?" Max finally snapped out of it.
"I said, 'your turn', dude." Chloe crossed her arms, which only had the effect of giving her more cleavage.
"My turn? Why?"
"Because if I'm getting my tits out in public, you are too."
It was hard logic to argue against. Max shrugged, and peeled off her shirt
"Noice." Chloe proclaimed when Max pulled her bra down.
Max grinned in appreciation and arched her back, pushing the modest swell of her breasts into Chloe's face.
"Awesome." Chloe whispered.
Though before she could begin lavishing the closest nipple with attention, Max pulled away.
"Wait," She said, "If we're being exhibitionists…" She pulled her camera out of her bag. "Might as well immortalise it."
"I'm game." Chloe purred.
"Kneel on the seat." Max ordered.
Chloe did so. Max followed a second later, pushing herself up against Chloe, who automatically wrapped her arms around Max's waist.
"You ready?" Max asked, holding the camera at arm's length.
Chloe nodded.
"Alright, say 'boob smush'!" Max ordered, pressing her breasts against Chloe's.
"Boob smush!"
Max pressed the shutter button. The camera flashed, whirred, and swiftly produced a photo. Max snatched it out, and stuck it in her bag.
"Talk about lesbians flashing in public." She quipped.
Chloe groaned. "Because of the flash. I get it. It was terrible. Also, title of your sex tape."
Then, she gasped. "Wait, title of our sex tape."
A further gasp, still. "Max, we should totally make a sex tape!"
The drive back down through Arcadia Bay was silent, but amiable. No words were needed as the two women drove through the increasingly golden light of a mid-October afternoon. Max laid her hand over Chloe's again, as she always did when they were driving.
When they reached the Two Whales, neither of them were surprised to find it almost completely packed. Joyce was flitting to and fro; serving food and drink to customers, chatting to regulars and keeping the occasional rowdy trucker in check. At the sound of the door opening, Joyce didn't even turn their way, instead tossing out a quick "Welcome to the Two Whales, grab a seat and I'll be right with you."
Chloe turned and grinned at Max. "Dude, she hasn't even noticed us. This is gonna be great. C'mon, let's do what she says and grab a seat."
Fortunately, their customary booth near the jukebox was free. They slid into opposite seats, mirroring how they had sat five years ago when Max had demonstrated that, no, she wasn't bullshitting about her powers.
Automatically, they linked hands across the table, smiling at each other like still-lovestruck teenagers.
True to her word, Joyce was only a couple of minutes. She strode over wielding a clipboard, poised to jot down their orders.
"Now what can I get'cha?" She asked, not looking up from her pad.
"How about a hug?" Chloe asked wryly.
"I don't think we - wait, Chloe, Max?!" Joyce exclaimed, having finally looked up and noticed who her customers were.
"Hey, Mom." Chloe clambered out of the booth and gave her mother a tight hug, with Max swiftly following.
"What are you gals doing here? I wasn't expecting you in the slightest!" Joyce said after hugs had been exchanged.
"We thought we'd surprise you." Chloe explained. "And, today's our five year anniversary. So coming back here just felt right, y'know?"
"Oh my, has it been five years already? It still feels like yesterday when you walked back in here looking like a deer in the headlights, Max."
Max laughed. "It feels like that to me too."
"Five years…" Joyce mused. "I think that's the longest my errant daughter's committed to anything."
"Hey, I'm not so errant anymore." Chloe protested. "I'm totally respectable now, I draw stuff on people for a living and live in a house and stuff."
"Yes, clearly respectable." Joyce teased her daughter. "But in all seriousness, you two should be proud. You've been through a lot together. More than most people should have to go through."
Joyce smiled. "Though I'll never forget the day you two came downstairs all those years ago, tryin' to hide the fact you were holding hands and giggling at one another. I know you didn't tell me on the day, but, I could tell, and it gave me great joy to see Chloe happy for once."
"Mom…" Chloe said, sounding as if she was about to choke up.
"Sit yourselves back down." Joyce warmly ordered, with a wink to her daughter. "I know you two didn't come here for just idle chit-chat. What food can I get you both?"
"It's gotta be a famous Two Whales cheese and bacon burger." Max said, not even needing to look at the menu. "So good."
"Agreed." Chloe nodded. "I'll have the same, thanks Mom."
"I didn't expect anything else." Joyce joked. "I'll have them out soon as can be."
While they waited, Max and Chloe alternated between reminiscing about all the time they had spent in the Two Whales over the years - "It's a small fucking miracle my waistline stayed the same." Chloe said - and gazing out of the window, watching the various people of Arcadia Bay going about their livelihoods.
Fifteen minutes later, Joyce returned, bearing two plates piled high with fries and onion rings, and featuring two enormous, double-patty-double-bacon-extra-cheese-dripping-in-sauce burgers.
"Oh my god." Max moaned as hers was set in front of her.
"I'll take that as a compliment." Joyce said with a wink. "I'll leave you two to dig in."
The next few minutes resembled a hobbit birthday party crossed with a HowToBasic video, complete with overly loud chewing noises, moans, and a distressing amount of meat.
"Fuck." Chloe groaned after finishing hers. "I missed these so much."
"Me too." Max agreed, wiping some sauce from the corner of her mouth. "Nowhere does burgers like here."
"It's a good thing we already ate them, because I legit wanted all that meat inside me." Chloe proclaimed.
"Are. Are you saying you're horny for burgers?"
"Do you even need to ask?"
"Point taken."
"Like, I don't think I've ever had that much inside me. It's filling me completely, Max."
"Gross, Chloe."
"At least it's not dribbling out of my moist hole."
"Oh my god. Never say that again."
"What is she doing now?" Joyce asked, having come over to collect their empty plates.
"Being her." Max answered.
"Why am I not surprised?" Joyce said with a sigh.
Chloe simply grinned.
"So what are you two ladies planning on doing next? Anything fancy?" Joyce asked.
"We thought we'd visit the lighthouse." Max answered. "It's always quiet, has gorgeous views and, well, it's a special place for us."
"Well, I hope you enjoy yourselves."
"We will." Chloe said.
"Any idea when you'll both next be in the Bay?"
"Not sure, but, hopefully soon?" Chloe answered. "You never know."
"Alright, well, it's been just great seeing you both." Joyce smiled warmly. "And don't worry about the bill, it's on the house."
"Are you sure?" Max asked. "That was a lot of food."
"I'm sure." Joyce insisted. "It's your anniversary. Now get going and enjoy that sunset."
"Thanks, Mom." Chloe hugged her again. "I love you."
"I love you too. And same goes for you, Max."
The lighthouse was bathed in stunningly beautiful rays of golden sunlight as they neared it. Max couldn't help but marvel at the view: Arcadia Bay was always gorgeous in her opinion, but especially so at this time, when the setting sun hit the town and practically made it glow.
She paused to dig her Polaroid out of her satchel and snap a shot. Then, she turned it towards Chloe, who was stood by idly watching the sunset, and took a second shot. The Polaroid performed its usual satisfyingly chunky whirr, and spat out a photo. Max stored it in her bag for it to have time to develop. But, she knew how it would turn out: Chloe had been framed in the light, a wistful look on her face as she stared out over the ocean, a fiery orange halo resting on her head.
Max thought she had never looked so beautiful.
"What?" Chloe asked, catching Max looking at her.
"Nothing." Max smiled. "C'mon."
Together, they walked slowly up towards the lighthouse and the edge of the cliff, where their traditional bench sat, almost as if it was welcoming them home.
As one, they sat, and watched the sun gracefully sink towards the horizon.
Max rested her head on Chloe's shoulder, letting her mind wander down memory lane, to all the places that had come before. She remembered sitting there, telling Chloe about her time powers. She remembered foreseeing obstacles, and overcoming them. Most of all, though, she remembered Chloe: her light, her best friend, her love.
"Life is strange, isn't it?" She murmured.
"Yeah." Chloe said, idly stroking Max's hair. "But I wouldn't trade you, or it, for anything."
"Me too." Max replied.
Now's as good a time as any. She thought.
Her heart began to race. When she had suggested to Chloe that they come back to Arcadia Bay for their anniversary, she had had a specific purpose in mind. And now, at the golden hour, when everything was perfect as it could be, it was time.
A rustling came from behind them. Max turned, and thought she saw a doe disappearing into the trees.
As if she didn't need a more obvious sign.
She steeled herself, preparing for the biggest question she'd ever ask.
However, unbeknownst to her, Chloe was harboring incredibly similar thoughts. So much so that her plan had been almost identical. The only difference was that Max had asked her to come back to the Bay instead of the other way around.
As one, Max Caulfield and Chloe Price turned to each other.
"Max." Chloe began.
"Chloe." Max said, at the same time.
"Will you-"
"-Marry me?"
Author's Note
To All Of You.
To everyone who's read this series, I want to say an honest thank you, just for reading a silly little bit of fluff. But honestly, as of this note, I've been writing - or, I guess, wrote - What If's on and off (with a lot of off, to be honest) for almost five years. But I'm not going to lie, this series is very close to my heart. It's my first long-form fic, it's what got me some traction as a LiS writer, and it's always been a thing, kind of like a safety net, while I worked on other stories.
I know I'm kinda rambling, but it's fucking *weird* having the main story of WI end. I've got a couple of one-shots planned, sure, but it's genuinely giving me The Emotions, because this story has ended.
Anyway. I sincerely hope you enjoyed this last chapter. It was an absolute joy to write, as I've known how it was going to end for years now, and I'm so damn happy I've finally gotten to share it. For the final time, leave a comment if you enjoyed this (or even if you didn't) and, peace out.
