"I knew that you'd come from me," Danny exclaimed seeing Max waiting for him. "You see? This is our destiny here."
Max didn't say anything right away, as she slid into the chair in front of the partition. Despite her brave words to Kenny and Jimmy, she felt absolutely terrified being alone with this man, even if there was a wall separating them.
"I have so much to tell you," he gushed, putting his hand to the plastic. "I have so many plans for when I get out of here, for you and me. I know why you said the things you said in court, but I know you still love me. Be patient, we'll be together soon."
Max fought the urge to run screaming from the room at his passion, as he continued to babble. Taking a deep breath she waited for him to shut up.
"Aren't you going to say anything?" he breathed.
"I didn't come here to make plans for the future with you," Max said evenly. "I wanted to see for myself that you were locked up. I know what you told Carter the other day, and the fact that your lawyer thinks he can get you out of here disgusts me, and if he succeeds I'll lose all faith in the judicial system. I want you to look at me Danny, really take a good look because this is the last time you're ever going to see me."
"No," he said carefully. "It's not."
"Yes it is. I'm not yours, and you're welcome to your sick little fantasies. That's all your ever going to have of me," Max said lowly. "You've manipulated me, stalked me, killed my friends, and raped me, but you know what? I'm still here, and I you're never going to hurt me again. Or anyone else in my life. You tried to destroy everything that I love, but you didn't win Danny."
Max watched as his face twisted into an ugly parody of itself, and he slammed both hands up against the plastic wall. "You don't understand! I need you, and you need me!"
"No I don't and I'm not sure why I ever thought I did," Max argued. "You're nothing to me, and I hope you rot in hell."
"Don't go," he begged. "Please don't leave me here!"
Max felt the need for vengeance build up inside her and she sighed. "Sorry Danny, but I have to go. I have a lot of things to do today. Did you know that I'm getting married? To Kenny. Have a nice life."
She watched him sink back into his chair, but could feel his eyes burning into her back as she left.
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Kenny stood, as a shaky Max made her way back to the lobby. Her short confrontation with Danny left her feeling emotionally drained, but relived that she could face him and not want to curl up in the corner and die. Not saying a word, she signed out, and gratefully went into his waiting arms. Closing the chapter, she thought, as they left.
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"That eloping idea is sounding better and better," Max muttered to herself, as she finalized the flower arrangements, as the countdown began. Checking off her mental list of wedding chores that she had to accomplish, she turned back to the case file in front of her. Typical Rome, she thought focusing in on it, a couple of teenagers thought it was a good idea to inject their neighbor's dog with some of their grandfather's medications. Needless to say, chaos reigned, and it turned out the grandfather's medication was synthetic heroin. Small town America is changing, Max thought as the investigation wrapped up.
"Hi Carter," she said, not looking up.
"I finished the autopsy report on the dog," he replied, passing it to her. "There were enough drugs in that animal to kill a 300 pound human."
"We put the fear of God into them," she replied flipping through his findings. "Jimmy left for the day, I'll leave this for him."
"Thanks," Carter said noting the empty office. "No one else around?"
"Trust me, I'm enjoying the solitude," Max said stretching. "And I plan on going for a long run when I'm done today."
"It's getting pretty close," Carter replied. "Two weeks."
"Don't remind me, I didn't know it took this much work to plan a wedding. I guess my mom was right. She's coming next week, with my sister. My mother can throw together a party in about five minutes, so even if she drives me nuts while she's here, it'll be worth it."
"I didn't meet them when they were here earlier."
"You'll like them. They're a little high strung, but they try."
"I heard you went to go see Danny," he said abruptly.
Max nodded. "So did you. Closure, I guess, I wanted to know that I could move on from it."
"Have you?" Carter asked.
"Have you?" Max asked carefully. "I know it's all still raw."
Carter nodded in agreement. "I met someone a few weeks ago, and I'll always miss Sue, but if you can go on from this, so can I."
"I'm glad."
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"Kenny," Max groaned, throwing her head back as he kissed her neck. "Hmm, I really need to finish this."
He momentarily glanced at her lists. "What's left?"
"Oh, seating charts," she began as he silenced her with a kiss. "Kenny… You know my mom is going to kill me when she gets here if this isn't somewhat finished."
"C'mon," he prodded. "We've been working on this thing for months."
"This thing is our wedding," Max argued, noting their avoidance of that word. "And I'm planning on it being the only one I ever have. I know you're a guy, and don't get into the whole flower arrangement debacle, but you do know that most women have been planning their wedding since they were little girls."
"Okay, okay," he said backing off. "I didn't know you were most women. Max, flowers, the cake, that's not what is important to me. I'd marry you without any of that, and be perfectly happy doing it."
"Are you humoring me?" Max asked tossing her pen down. "I know about your family traditions and this whole Catholic wedding… I know what it means to your family."
"We're about to be family," he argued. "I don't want you to stress over this. Yeah, it's our wedding, and we're letting our families take it over. The Catholics and I don't know what to call your Mom."
"Society snob," Max replied with a small smile. "Your serious about this?"
Kenny shrugged. "We could do both. One for us, and then for them."
"I don't really want ice sculptures anyway," she replied. "Or a giant cake that tastes like cardboard."
"So, if you've been planning your wedding since you were a little girl," Kenny trailed off.
Max let herself settle into his arms. "I had this picture of what I wanted. Springtime, in a garden, with orchids. A Vera Wang dress, a dozen bridesmaids wearing pink, orchids everywhere. A white gazebo and my father giving me away. Telling me that he was proud of me. This is a high society wedding all the way, with a menu prepared by top chefs, and a chocolate mousse cake. My parents cook makes the most unbelievable one. I wanted a husband who would look fantastic in his tux, and take me into his arms and when we danced our first dance, I would feel like the luckiest woman in the world."
"What changed?" Kenny asked as she paused.
"I could find a cure for cancer, and I know that it wouldn't make my Dad happy. I've seen high society weddings, and I remember being at my sisters and realizing that it wasn't what I wanted. My ideal has changed, and you know all that I want? I could stand barefoot wearing jeans, and if I was with the man that I loved, that would be all that mattered."
"I personally want to see you in the dress," Kenny said. "Something about you, and a virginal dress… Max, it really turns me on."
"Try to control yourself," she replied with a grin. "We've still got a few days."
"So what are we vetoing?" he asked. "Ice sculptures? Flower wreaths?"
"Yeah. You know my mom has a dozen doves on hold? I'll veto that."
"Doves? C'mon," Kenny said pulling her to her feet. "We'll call these people tomorrow, and change whatever we want. No sculptures, wreaths, doves, or any of this other junk. All I want is you, me, and our family and friends."
"Sounds good," Max agreed, letting him lead her back into the bedroom.
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"I'm not sure I can do this," Kenny told Jimmy a few days later at his and Max's rehearsal dinner, watching his fiancé chatting with Carla and Laurie.
"Of course you can. Believe me, I've done it twice," Jimmy insisted.
"Yeah. I want Max to be my second wife first. I can't imagine doing this again," Kenny replied, trying not to sound nervous. Seeing his parents and sister, mingling with their friends, he looked around for Max's family, knowing she wished her father was here. Kenny didn't understand her relationship with him, and he knew how much it hurt her that he couldn't be bothered to come to their wedding. He finally spotted them in the corner whispering to each other. Kenny watched as Max moved over to them, and he knew there was still some tension between the three woman. He had to chuckle at Max putting her foot down at the idea of doves, and her saying that she didn't care if it was chic, they weren't going have birds pooping on their guests.
The last thing Max wanted to do at this party was fight with her mother some more, but when she saw that Caroline and her were huddled up in the corner together, she figured she should at least go talk to them.
"Since when do you hide at a party?" Max asked them trying to keep her voice light, as she approached.
Her mother smoothed her Donna Karan suit before surveying the casual crowd. "Well, this isn't exactly what I planned on. Do you remember Caroline's rehearsal dinner?"
Max tried not to grimace at the memory of the pastel décor, and all the guests wearing beige linen. "Yes, Mother. It was beautiful, but that was Caroline."
"Oh, Mother," Caroline replied. "So this isn't going to be the classiest affair we've ever attended. It's Maxie you know, this is really more her style than ours. More low key."
Max tried not to be insulted at the backhanded defense by her sister, as she glanced at the crowd. "Well, I'm going to mingle. I'll see you later."
Walking away from the twosome, she could hear them beginning to whisper again, and she vowed not to let their snide remarks ruin her wedding.
"Well, here is the bride," a voice boomed, as she nearly collided with Kenny's Dad. "I've hardly had a chance to talk to you, but with all that my boy has said, I feel like I know you already. He never told us you were such a looker though."
Max had to smile at him, and she saw that same warmth and honesty in him that she loved about Kenny. "I'm not surprised at that."
He regarded her for a minute, and Max tried not to squirm under his gaze. "You're not what we expected, knowing my son the way I do. I can tell by looking at you that you come from a good stock, a lot of class. And you make my son very happy. I can tell by the way he's looking at you right now."
Max blushed at the compliment, and felt Kenny's arm circle around her waist. "He makes me happy too."
Fred nodded at his son. "You've got a keeper here."
"Yeah, I know," Kenny agreed, locking eyes with the woman by his side. "She's great."
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"They look so sweet," Jill whispered to Kimberly, eyeing Max and Kenny as they snuck away from the party for a few minutes.
"I wonder if they'll actually go through with it tomorrow," she asked. "Mom, they have major commitment issues."
Jill shook her head at her daughters pessimism. "Oh, I think they will. They've been through a lot together in the last few years, and just look at them."
Kimberly followed her mother's gaze, and tried not to feel jealous. It wasn't too long ago she and Kenny tried to have some sort of relationship, but she knew deep down that he was just avoiding the inevitable with Max. She was far from stupid, and Kimberly saw the way that he looked at Max, even during the week when they tried to date. "I'm surprised, that's all Mom. I never thought that Max was the marrying type or Kenny either for that matter."
"I don't think they did either," Jill agreed. "I guess they proved themselves wrong."
They watched them duck around the corner, and out of sight.
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"Would it be rude to leave our own party?" Max asked devilishly, leaning up against the bathroom wall. "This is our last night as singles…before we become an old, boring married couple."
"Probably," Kenny said, despite the fact that he liked the idea. "I hear that our sex life is going to go down hill. We might as well have one more night like we used too. It's our party… we might as well enjoy it."
"Well, then," Max said beckoning him closer. "I don't know if we're ever going to be boring, but I know that our sexual relationship has survived a lot worse then anything that can possibly be coming."
She felt a familiar tingle running through her when Kenny lowered his mouth to hers, and pushed her up against the wall. Forgetting where they were, they began to lose themselves in the moment, and when the door flew open they didn't really notice it right away.
"Whoa," Matthew Brock exclaimed, staring at the embracing couple, as Kenny quickly pulled his hand out of Max's shirt, as Jimmy came up behind his son. "Wow. I've never seen my parents do that."
Jimmy eyed his two deputies and tried not to laugh at their startled expressions. Torn between chastising them and just poking them a bit, he ushered Matthew out. He turned his head back, still in awe of the spectacle he just observed.
"You know better," Jimmy said after his son left. "Lock the door next time."
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"Oh God, I'm not sure I can do this," Max exclaimed at the church the next morning. "Mom? What was I thinking?"
Max sunk back against the bench in the bride's room, and not really knowing if she could stand up again. She caught sight of her reflection in the mirror again, and didn't recognize the woman staring back at her. Her hair hung, full and loose, and her sister had a deft touch with make-up and she had made her look stunning. Max was afraid to cry because she didn't want to ruin all of Caro's good work. She looked like a bride, Max realized, and even after all the planning, she didn't think there would be this utter panic.
"Shh, don't be silly, Maxie. Women do this everyday," her mother insisted. "We've worked too hard planning this to have you call it off."
"Hello," Jill called from the doorway, poking her head in. "Oh, Max. Look at you."
Jill studied the panicked expression on her young friend's face, and beckoned Carla and Laurie into the room. Utter terror, Jill thought, thinking she would drag her down the aisle kicking and screaming if she had too. Beautiful, though, loving her dress.
"I can't do this," Max said again. "Please, just let me get out of here."
"Max," Jill began, not quite sure what to say. "I've seen you and Kenny together, and I know you love each other, believe me it's obvious. It's all Matthew can talk about. So get up off your butt, and go down the aisle. You two have earned this day."
Max nodded slightly, listening.
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Kenny paced across the hall, feeling as nervous as his bride. He felt his Dad, Jimmy and Carter all watching him, and he wished he could think of something to say. What he realized at that moment was how much he wanted to see Max. Just look at her face for a minute, and know everything was going to be alright.
"It's almost time," his Dad said nodding towards the full church. "You ready?"
"I'm not sure," Kenny said. "Not sure I can do this."
Jimmy and Carter exchanged a look, and part of them each knew that this might happen. The panic of knowing you were giving a huge part of yourself to another person was gnawing in Kenny's gut, and he didn't really know if he could stand up in front of all these people and get married. Even after all this time the word still sounded foreign to him.
"Yes, you can" Jimmy replied. "You two have been planning this for months, and I don't know how long subconsciously. You two didn't look like you had any doubts last night."
"That was different, we're good at that," Kenny said distantly.
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"No, sorry," Max insisted. "Jill I'm serious, I love him, I really do, but this whole marriage thing… maybe it's not for me. Kenny and I have enough trouble not burning dinner, we antagonize each other half the time, and I don't think we've had a moment of peace together in the last year."
Jill and Laurie exchanged a look, not really knowing what to do.
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"You're just going to leave her at the alter," his Dad asked flabbergasted. "That beautiful young woman? Are you an idiot? Most men are lucky if they find someone like that, and you're just going to throw it all away? I certainly wouldn't leave a woman on your wedding day that knows how to shoot a gun. Believe me, I'm sure your mother would have shot me a dozen times by now if she knew how."
"We still have a few minutes," Carter interjected. "Go get some air, or something. Don't go anywhere. I don't think Max would shoot you, but I wouldn't want to see her that pissed."
Kenny nodded, as he went out to collect himself.
Jimmy shook his head, as he wandered out to keep an eye on his deputy.
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Jill peeked outside and found the hallway deserted,. "We have a few minutes. Clean yourself up, and get some fresh air. Max, you need to think about this objectively here."
"Okay," she whispered, shakily rising to her feet. "Some air would be good."
Jill joined Jimmy at the window, to keep an eye on Max, not realizing that Kenny was out there too, having last minute jitters. Jimmy held his hand out to his wife, as he continued his watch.
"Kids, you know," he said shaking his head. "Kenny's ready to bolt."
"So is Max," Jill replied. "You should see her Jimmy, she looks gorgeous in that dress, terrified, but beautiful. I sent her out to get some fresh air and to clear her head."
Look," Jimmy said, pointing towards to the two startled deputies bumping into each other on the church steps. "Maybe the groom seeing the bride in her dress won't be a bad omen this time."
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"Wow," Kenny gasped, drinking in the woman that stood in front of him. "I didn't know you could look like that."
"You look pretty good yourself. I don't think I've ever seen you in a tie, much less a tuxedo," Max whispered, feeling some of her panic melt away. "Oh Kenny, are we really doing this?"
He was afraid to touch her because she looked so beautiful, not quite real to him. "Do you still want to?"
"Do you?" she countered, before sighing. "With everything else, it didn't seem quite real until today. I saw myself like this, and I just freaked out."
"You want to get out of here?" he offered. "We have a car down there. Who are we doing this for? This is us Max, what were we thinking?"
Max could see the fear in his eyes, the same fear from that Valentines Day, and she reached out and touched his face. "We're doing this for us, remember? So we both have dozens of failed relationships, but one is bound to stick. Why not ours? I don't want this to be another what if for us."
Kenny regarded her for a second before responding. "Remember the last time we were out here together, at Father Barrett's mass after the shoe thing?"
"Yeah," Max said softly. "After that night."
"That night," Kenny repeated.
"Listen Max, you and me, it's crazy. It would just screw things up at work."
"I know. I know. I agree completely. We should know better."
"We learn."
"Yup."
"It is crazy," Max echoed. "And things have been different with us. You're my best friend Kenny, and I love you. It took me along time to tell you that, and I'm not going to take it back now."
Kenny looked at the determination on her beautiful face. "You know what? Maxine Stewart, I love you. I've always been in love with you. Ever since I saw you in that ridiculous, ridiculous trooper hat seven years ago. And I'll never get you out of my system. So you might as well marry me."
"I don't want to interrupt," Jimmy called from the doorway. "But they're about to start without you."
Slowly they smiled at each other, as they followed Jimmy back into the church.
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"I promise to love, honor, and cherish you for all the rest of my days," Max said, trying to hold back her tears. Keeping her hands steady, she slid the gold band onto Kenny's finger. "With this ring, I thee wed."
Looking up at him, she could tell it was hard for him to keep his voice steady as he recited his vows. She felt the band slip onto her finger, and they turned back towards the priest.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."
Kenny wrapped his arms around Max, and pulled her into him. Pausing for a second, their eyes locked on each other. He lowered his mouth to hers, and they both knew now that all the suffering they went through in the last two years had been worth it. They had made it, and this was where they were supposed to be. Breaking apart, they turned to meet their gathered friends and family as Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Lacos.
THE END