Disclaimer: I don't any of the characters in this story that appear in the hit syndicated TV show, Dark Angel, which are owned by James Cameron. I do, however, own any original characters featured in this story. If you wish to use them, please ask me.

Summary: Max reflects on Alec. Takes place after "Hello, Goodbye." Song is "Before I Loved You" by Kelly Clarkson.

A/N: I been listenin to way too many romance songs… I'm not a huge ultra-big fan of the song, hope I did it justice.

I'm Floating

By

Brin

"Life is not measured in the moments you take breath, but the moments that take your breath away." –Unknown

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Chapter 2: Love at Second Sight

I downed a shot, wincing at the burning sensation it ignited in my stomach, then looked up at my best friend.

OC stared back at me with narrowed eyes. "Boo… when ya gonna forget you're a badass bitch and hookup with that bee-yootiful honey you got over there?" asked Original Cindy, motioning towards a brooding figure across the room with a nod of her head.

"He isn't my honey! How come we go over this at least twice a week?!" I whined, forcing myself not to look over at Alec. "Come on, OC, you know Alec and I could never by like that."

OC gave me a blank look. "No… actually, I never quite caught the reason you two ain't together. I mean, you two don't exactly have a genetically-targeted retro virus keeping you apart, if ya know what I mean." She paused long enough to take a sip of beer. "So tell me, Boo, why aren't you two together?"

I opened her mouth to reply, stopped, then tried again, stopped, then finally came up with, "Because he's an asshole."

"Mmhmm," said OC skeptically. "Boo, you gotta come up with a better reason than that."

"He looks like one of my brothers."

"From what you tell me, your brother Krit and your sister Syl hooked up, suga. I'm afraid that argument don't work with Original Cindy, either." OC narrowed her eyes.

"Look, Manticore made us breeding partners. That's just… weird. And if I hooked up with him then they'd just be getting what they wanted," I snapped irritably. Yeah, but who cares? Look at him! that traitorous little voice whispered in my ear. I shook my head at OC and downed another shot as the music changed from a fast-paced hip hop song to a slow Pre-Pulse pop melody.

I wonder how I ever made it through a day

How did I settle for the world in shades of gray

When you go in circles all the scenery looks the same

And you don't know why

Original Cindy leaned close to her friend, setting down her glass. "Alright, Boo, that's it. Original Cindy has had enough of this bullshit." She leaned even closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. "I seen the looks you and Alec pass between each other, Boo. You two are a regular old match made in Manticore. Suga, he's head over heels for you."

I glanced across the room at Alec, finding him staring at me, and we both looked away quickly in embarrassment.

"Boo, guys like that don't come around often. He'd give his life for you, Max, and you know he would. What you got against poor Alec?"

And I looked into your eyes

Where the road stretched out in front of me

And I realized

I'd never lived before your love

Nothing, that little voice whispered again… but my heart and my head were telling me two different things.  What was it that I had against Alec? Sure, he looked like Ben… but I had gotten used to it. I admit sometimes I would forget he was Alec and be surprised at seeing Ben walking around again, but those times had lessened. I knew Ben and Alec were two different people. Two very different people. Ben had been cold-hearted, confused, and ever so alone. Alec… Alec was passionate, courageous, a bit lost, but always willing to lend a hand. So many times we had fought, but those petty arguments never really got to me. Sometimes they were even fun. Alec has this way of making me smile, not the kind of smile you force to make someone feel better about themselves, but those genuine grins that only come once in awhile. He makes me laugh a lot, too. Sometimes I'd be sitting with Logan, going over the latest save-the-world campaign and I'd just break into a fit of laughter from a memory of him doing something stupid. Logan would just stare at me like I was crazy. Speaking of Logan, I also liked Alec's half-work-half-play attitude. Logan is all work, work, work… but with Alec, I can actually go hang with him and he won't be caught up in some medical mystery or depressing story about corrupt politicians. Deep down… what really kept me away from Alec?

"Everything," I said quietly, though my voice was hollow and emotionless.

"Liar," replied OC. She put her hand on my shoulder and whispered, "He's coming over here."

I'd never felt

Before your touch

And I'd never needed anyone

To make me feel alive

My head whipped up and my heart leapt into my throat as I realized that Alec was, indeed, moving towards us. He had that passionate look in his eye that he gets when he talks of Rachel, his missions, his old friends. I felt my pulse jumpstart, heart racing, adrenaline setting fire to my veins. No, no, no, no, no, no! I can't go through with this right now! I frantically looked at OC for some kind of way out of this, only to find that she actually left the table to flirt with some blonde chick. So I was stuck with only a bubble of space between me and Alec—a  bubble that was getting continually smaller.

But then again,

I wasn't really livin'

I'd never lived...

Before your love

I watched his face closely, trying to discern one emotion from another, but his face was so full of emotion that I could barely tell whether he was going to kill me or kiss me. Damn, but he looks good when he's feeling conviction. I stared at the angled cheekbones, smooth skin, and absolutely gorgeous green eyes. I've never seen eyes more colorful. It might sound crazy, but his eyes are that bright green color of marijuana. I cringe at the bad example going through my mind and he stops, one foot dangling in midair, as if thinking I'm going to tell him off.

I wanted more than just another merry life

All of my dreams seemed like castles in the sky

I stand before you and my heart is in your hands

"Max," he greets me warily.

"Alec," I return.

He scratched the back of his neck, the corner of his lips twitching nervously, and then clapped his hands together. He was obviously stalling.

"Yes, Alec?" I prodded, putting on my best I-don't-give-a-damn look.

And I don't know how

I'd survive without your kiss

'Cause you've given me

A reason to exist

"Max, would you like to dance?" he suddenly blurted, then turned bright red in embarrassment.

My shot glass fell to the floor and shattered, catching the attention of the people partying around us. They spared us a curious glance, then shrugged it off and returned to their previous activities. I immediately put my head down to avoid Alec seeing that I was turning beet red. My face felt like it was on fire.

"I-I-I-I-I," I stammered breathlessly. I would love to. "S-s-s-sure."

Alec held his hand out, his face unsure and nervous. I stared at it for a second before placing my small hand into his larger one and allowing myself to be pulled onto the dance floor.

I'd never lived

Before your love

I'd never felt

Before your touch

I'd never needed anyone

To make me feel alive

But then again,

I wasn't really livin'

I don't know if I was imagining things, but when we stepped onto the floor everyone else sort of… left. It was just Alec and I, staring at each other awkwardly. I felt like a silly schoolgirl at her first dance. I'd loved dancing ever since I was twelve years old, and had danced with more guys than even I could recall, yet I was reduced to a stammering fool here in front of Alec, the one man I said would never intimidate or make an idiot out of me.

Alec was the first to get over his nervousness. He put an arm around my waist and pulled my body to his. Fire raced underneath my skin at the contact and I turned away to avoid letting him see how scared I must've looked. He then took my hands and put them on his shoulders, placing both his hands on my hips. I was still looking away, but he gently pulled my chin so that I was looking straight up at him.

I'd never lived...

I'd never lived...

Before your love

I'd never lived

Before your love

Staring up into those emerald green orbs, I could see them glimmering with tears. I must've been crying, too, because after a few endless moments we started laughing at our emotional antics and he wiped my cheek with this thumb. He then leaned forward and whispered in my ear, "You know why I'm crying?"

"No," I replied with a sniffle.

"Because you're so beautiful I can't stand it," he answered, then placed a feather-soft kiss on my neck.

And I don't know why

Why the sun decides to shine

But you've breathed your love into me just in time

"Do you know why I am crying, Alec?" I asked to avoid fainting.

"Why, Max?"

"Because I can't decide if I'm awake or not… I don't want to wake up," I replied softly. It was the truth. I just wanted to see what would happen if I pinched myself.

Alec smiled at me, not one of those smug grins he puts on when he doesn't want you to know what he's feeling, but a smile that I had only seen once or twice before. He then leaned so close to me that I could feel his breath tickle my face and whispered, "I love you, Max."

I'd never lived

Before your love

I'd never felt

Before your touch

I'd never needed anyone

To make me feel alive

But then again

I wasn't really livin'

I'd never believed in love at first sight.

But now I believe in love at the second.

"I love you, too."

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Heheh, fluffynes ^_^ I just HAD to write this. The idea has been eating at me for weeks!