Chapter 4 ~ New Resolutions, New Beginnings

Chapter 4 ~ New Resolutions, New Beginnings?

Zack sat atop the Space needle, he could understand why this was Max's favourite place, up here you could forget everything, even your self. It took Zack a couple of minutes to realise what the wetness in his hands was, he was sweating, He, Zack, CO of the X5 was sweating buckets over a small pint sized X5, he had faced down guns, knifes, he had looked death in the eye and he had never been afraid, and now, now he was terrified. This was Max, he had waited months, hell years to hear this kind of declaration from her and now he just wanted her to take it back. Unrequited love was hard enough, but now he knew Maxie felt the same way, now that he had tasted her lips under his own, felt her body meld against his, knowing now everything they could have, just made leaving worse. She had to know that this wouldn't work. Couldn't work, he wouldn't let it, he couldn't open himself up her, when you open up and let people in once they're close to you they had too much power over you, Zack had watched his brother and sisters over the years, he had saw them all fall time after time forgetting their training and he had watched them get hurt and helped pick up the pieces. He couldn't afford to let that happen to him. Who was he kidding he was afraid, deathly afraid, he knew in his heart how much he loved Max, knew what she could do, with a word with a look he couldn't let it happen.

But she'd said it…., the words he had never thought he would hear, she loved him, him, Zack, not Logan, not one of the guys she had been with over the last couple of years but him. He who had always lectured that ties were no good, that you couldn't get attached, that love, strong deep powerful love that could bring you to your knees was wrong an now……

But It wasn't just him he had to worry about. He could grow complacent, let his guard down, let Max or one of the others get hurt, or even killed. He knew he couldn't handle that. Zack felt himself wrestle with the conflicting emotions inside, watched as an observer as his heart and head argued for supremacy, his head telling him to run and his heart telling to walk back to Maxie, his heart, the other part of him.

Ok Zack Now, well now was decision time, he could either walk away or let the walls down and let Max in and with her, the possible pain that could come. Zack stood and slung his jacket over his shoulder. He knew what he was going to do. Knew that deep down he wasn't strong enough to do anything else.

Max felt the chill start to seep into her bones, she had sat on this sofa and cried for what felt like hours and now she felt drained. She needed to lie down, for a moment she wished she were the type to need eight good hours sleep, just to get away from this for a little while. As she stood up Max heard the door open.

"Kendra, hey Boo, your back early, what's up Mr Multiples disappointing this weekend"

As Max turned around she felt her breath catch as she saw Zack shadowed against door.

"Zack"

"Look Maxie, don't say anything, just let me say what I've come to say before I don't say it"

Max stood in silence and inclined her head to tell him to go on.

"I…I Love You. There I've said it, I love you, not as a sister, not as someone I want to protect, I love you as you are, Max Guevera, My Soul, the other half of me, the other half of my heart, and more importantly than that, I need you, I need you to be there when I go to sleep and there when I wake up. I don't want to run anymore, I want to come home, home to you. I know I'm an arsehole and your probably still mad bu.. mppphh"

Zack found the rest of his words muffled against Max mouth as she threw herself at him, as her mouth opened under his, he lost himself in her embrace. After a couple of minutes they stopped and looked at each other. Zack opened his mouth to continue with his apology.

"Max I.."

"Zack" Max interrupted "Shut Up, did anyone tell you that for the strong silent type, you talk way too much"

"Oh is that right" Zack smiled "Well I guess you're going to have to find a way to keep me quiet"

Max giggled as they tumbled to the floor, "Oh I think I could think of a couple of ways.

As they landed the two lovers lost themselves in their kiss and each other, happy and content to be at home…. At last.

The End?

I was thinking of a sequel to this, showing them moving forward, telling Logan, adjusting to their new lives, I was also going to try and include more of the X-5's now that I know a little more about them, please let me know what you think.

~Eire~

This was in response to Eternity's challenge and was to include the following elements; I just didn't want to give away the ending J

Max and Zack must NOT be together at the beginning of the story. P

Must be set before TKAA P

Zack comes back hurt and Max takes care of him P

Max must wash Zack's hair P

Max takes Zack to the crash and teaches him to dance P

Someone must say "Break me off a piece of that" P

Zack must say I Love You P

Zack and Max are together at the end. P