Disclaimer: All characters belong to the creators and writers of Dark Angel, NOT to the idiots at Fox who cancelled the show.
Summary: M/A!! Alec's POV. Sometime in the 3rd season. The battle with the government is over and Alec needs some time away from everything that's happened in Seattle. With some persuasion from a good friend, he decides to getaway to Cuba.
A/NI: This is a bit like a songfic, but more of a Dark Angel fanfic. It's based around Montell Jordan's "Once Upon a Time" from his "Get It On Tonite" album. The lyrics really don't do the song justice, so download it or find it in the back of your CD collection, and listen while you're reading the story. I immediately thought of Max and Alec when I heard the song for the first time in years.
A/NII: It's a bit sappy, but we all need a good story once in awhile. Please review!!! Be a responsible reader. I've read and reviewed every fanfic I've ever read, and I know what it feels like to get a good review. Review, even if you think this story sucks. REVIEW!!
Getaway to Cuba
By Strife's LMNT
I had to get out of the country. I had to getaway from Seattle, from Terminal City, from Max. Our fight with the humans had become yesterday's news ever since the public realized we aren't the freaks they thought we were. We had stood strong inside our fort, not giving into the threats of torture and capture. We fought together as one and our solidarity had paid off. The public lost interest. They knew we were just like them in most ways, we ate, slept, played, worried about the future, had friends, loved.
Love. Love was my biggest problem at that moment. With the big battle evidently over, life was forced to resume as it had before we were barricaded inside Terminal City. Everyone else seemed so happy, why couldn't I be happy for once? I knew there was only one thing, or person that is, who could fill the hole in my heart.
Max and Logan had been playing pretend throughout the whole ordeal. The late night talks, the creative planning, the old teamwork, it was all a lie, and they both knew it. I, obviously, saw it too. Max, although she smiled, never smiled out of true happiness, like she used to whenever we hung out together at Crash. Her brown eyes often wandered while Logan rambled on an on like he had fought every battle in the history of the post-pulse world. His ego had swelled to the size of a house the moment he realized that Max had "chosen" him instead of me.
All the while, I stood behind her, hoping she would have the strength to break away from this relationship. Out of loyalty to Max, I followed every single one of Logan's idiotic commands. He thought I had something to do with Max's unhappiness, so he often sent me out to steal the plastic gloves he would use to hold my girl's hand. My girl. Max was my girl.
Original Cindy saw that Max and I were both gloomy when we should have been celebrating. To my surprise, she approached me as I picked up a package from Normal as the newly resurrected and renovated Jam Pony.
"Look, I hate you and everything that you stood for before you became a good guy. When I first met you I thought you were an arrogant, self-righteous and selfish boy, who didn't have the heart to care for anyone but himself. And you and I both know that I was right."
"Thanks, OC, you're great at making people feel better."
"Wait, I ain't finished yet. But now that I've gotten to know you better, I feel that you've become a part of my family. And I hate to see anyone in my family suffer when they don't have to. I was talking to Max last night and she let it slip that she and Logan aren't doing too well with their new arrangements. I think all she needs is a little reality check and she'll be running into your arms in no time. Although, I don't know why she would want to be with you."
"I thought you just said we were like family?"
"Family, yes. But good enough for MY boo, no."
"Well, I guess I could take a little vacation. Maybe some time away from her will let me clear my head. Let her see how much she needs someone like me who doesn't only want to use her as his personal cat burglar."
I could see that OC was probably right about the reality check, so I got an old friend to score me a ticket to someplace faraway, somewhere hot. I wanted to take Max with me, but the only answer she gave me was, "I can't. Terminal City needs its' leader to stay. Besides, Logan needs me here right now." With what I could afford, my source got me a week in Cuba. Not too bad, but I would have to sleep in a run down motel, which wasn't a problem 'cause I didn't think I would get much sleep anyway. I thought of Max as a packed the few belongings I had left. I thought if her as I sat in the rickety, old, 15-passenger plane on my flight to Havana. I wandered the streets of Havana, meeting many people, people who knew nothing about transgenics or Manticore. I felt normal for once in my new life.
I strolled the streets for almost the entire week. Picking up a few knick knacks for those back in Seattle, learning the language by memorizing a Spanish dictionary, even hooking up with some local girls. We frolicked on the beach, hung out in the hottest of bars, and even took a little trip through the rain forest. They were fun, but my playboy days were over. It was sad to say, but I had become a one-woman man. Those girls were only in it for the American money anyway.
I had almost given up on having any fun in Havana until Saturday night, the night before I was to leave. I stumbled upon a little salsa club that seemed to be the hot spot in that certain area. Thinking I had nothing to lose, I paid the doorman and entered the club.
It was dimly lit by a few lights and dozens of candles. The air was filled with the scent of jasmine, snap dragons, and other tropical plants. Wondering where the floral scent was coming from, I followed my superior scent and found myself in a moonlit courtyard with about 50 other people. It was only then that I heard the lively salsa band playing in a corner beside the bar. I head towards the bar, hoping that the beer is better than the sewer sludge they serve at Crash.
I gave the bar tender my order in my fluent, yet Americanized, Spanish and turn to grab my wallet from my backpack. My eyes caught a glimpse of a bright red dress in the darkest corner of the club. But it is not the dress that keeps me staring, it's the woman who wears it. I swear that it's Max. I close my eyes and open them, hoping to dispel any false images. But it is Max. Or maybe another clone? Before I could think of my next move, "Max" comes over with the tiniest of smirks on her face. Her hair is curly and it compliments her low cut, rose-red dress.
"Max? Is it really you?" I manage to stutter.
"Don't get too excited. We have some serious talking to do."
"But where's Logan? I thought you guys were working together? I mean, you guys seemed pretty together when I asked you to come with me." I was trying hard to sound calm even though I was more excited as I had ever been in my life. But she saw right through my mask.
"Forget him. I didn't come all the way here on a rickety old plane to talk about Logan Cale. I came here to see you."
At that moment the band started another set filled with Pre-Pulse classics from Santana, Marc Anthony and the Gypsy Kings.
"Let's dance." Max grabs my hand and leads me to the centre of the tropical courtyard where the moon shone brightly on us both.
"Max, I…"
"Shhh. Don't spoil the moment. Just keep moving that ass like I know you can."
"It's all about the ass with you, ain't it?"
We danced for what seemed like forever. I'm sure the band was great, but I could barely hear it as I looked into Max's eyes. She was here. She had finally dropped Logan and found the strength to come to me. I loved her for that. The stars shone brighter than they ever had in Seattle. We didn't say a single word the entire evening, speaking with only the movements of our bodies, until the bar tender informed the crowd that this was the last call for drinks.
"You want anything, Max?"
"Sure, whatever's on tap."
I didn't want to let go in case this was all some wonderful dream, but the beer was calling my name. I got the two orders of drinks and headed back to where I had left Max. At first, when I didn't see her, I ran frantically around the club, and eventually started calling out her name. She was nowhere to be found. No one knew where the beautiful woman in red with curly hair had gone. The love of my life had just vanished into thin air, leaving me with a helpless look upon my face and two beers.
Now here is my story that I tell to you
You may not believe my but I swear it's true
I escaped to Havana for a getaway
In a tiny club
With a Cuban band
On a Saturday
And that's when I saw her from across the room
Like something from movie or a storybook
She had a short dress, with curly hair, and chocolate skin
That's how it all began…
I remember when she came into my life
And all at once-upon-a-time
Love was in the air
Just like an ocean breeze
And we were dancing to the sweetest melodies
I held her in my arms
Until she danced into the night
It all happened once-upon-a-time.
"Once Upon a Time" – Montell Jordan
A/N: So, what do you think? If you think it's bad so far, review. If you think it's great and you want to read the rest of it (it's a long, story-like song) REVIEW!! Review, you know you want to, you'll feel guilty if you don't.