A/N: Yep, the first of the two part M/L resolution to New CO is finally here. Sorry about the delay, I'd forgotten about it. Completely. And this is in a slightly different shape from where it began, so it isn't as M/L as it used to be. But the next chapter will be. Enjoy.

This is unbetaed, so blame me for any mistakes!!

New CO: M/L resolution

Chapter one: Happily Ever After?

Max leaned closer to the edge of the space needle, feeling her hair whip around her face and taking a deep breath.

"The escape was not my idea." She began in a clear voice. Hearing a laugh behind her, she spun around. "Zane, what are you doing here?" Max asked in a sweet yet slightly annoyed voice.

"Not your idea?" The CO said by way of response. "You were drawing escape plans before you could walk. Hell, you probably faked those seizures." He walked up beside her and pushed her good-naturedly, staring out into the Seattle skyline. "What are you talking about up here anyway?" He asked. Max smiled knowingly.

"Just something I do." She answered.

"Should I be worried about this talking to yourself thing you do?" Zane asked with a wide grin. Max poked him before turning around.

"Nope. Just clearing this stuff out of my head. Could you back up a bit? I'd like to finish." Zane let out an exaggerated sigh and stepped backwards.

"The escape was not my idea. I mean....escape to what? We didn't know anything else." Max spoke louder as Zane snickered again. "It was Zack who said we had to leave. So, I guess he saved my life. I didn't think we should separate. But he wouldn't listen."

"What did you expect? Not the greatest listening skills in the world, our Zack." Max abandoned her view of the skyline, spinning again to face Zane.

"I told you not to interrupt!" She chastised, clearly annoyed.

"Come on, Maxie. What, have you got this memorised? Can't you try a different tune?" Max sighed and turned, trying again.

"Sometimes it seems like it happened to someone else. Like maybe it was a story I heard."

"Sure would make a lot more sense." Zane offered with a smile. With a frustrated sigh, Max gave up and went to sit beside her brother.

"No happily ever after?" Zane teased with a smile.

"Maybe." She grinned back happily.

"Ah, Prince Batman and his Catwoman, riding off into the sunset." Zane quipped.

"On a ninja." Max cut in, leaning against him.

"On a ninja." He agreed with a nod.

"Zane?" She asked.

"Still here."

"What's going on with you and Brianna?"

"Tell me and we'll both know. I have absolutely no idea about her at all. I understand nothing." Max laughed.

"That's a good thing." Zane shook his head but stayed silent.

"And what about you and Prince Batman?" Zane asked. "Can I expect to see you moving to the batcave anytime soon?"

"You know, people might actually start to take you seriously if you dropped the comic book analogies once in a while." Max said, ducking the question.

"It adds to my boyish charm." He grinned. Max rolled her eyes.

"Whatever." She looked at Zane, who had his eyebrows raised, and sighed. "If I tell you something, do you swear never to repeat it, ever?" Zane gave her his most sincere look and drew an imaginary cross over his heart. "You can't tell anyone, not Jondy, or Kia, or Krit... especially not Logan." Zane nodded solemnly. Max took a deep breath.

"I think I could love him." She let the sentence out with a rush of air, and looked as if she startled herself with the admission. Zane's smile spread from ear to ear.

"He's someone that I could love." She continued, looking slightly puzzled.

"What's that like?" Zane teased.

"It's the scariest thing in the world. And the best thing in the world. All at the same time." Max smiled. "Does that sound stupid?" Zane shook his head.

"Not to me. You guys are meant for each other, Maxie. Anyone can see it."  He smiled again. "I think you'll make it." She grinned back at him.

"I think we will too. Who would have thought, a genetically engineered killing machine finding prince charming in a broken world?" The pair laughed.

"I don't think that's exactly what the good folks back at Manticore had in mind for you."

"Maybe it is. Maybe tomorrow Sebastian will crack the files and suddenly, Manticore's plans for catwoman and prince batman will come streaming onto the screen."

"Max." Zane said with an overexaggerated sigh.

"Yeah?"

"It's only cute when I say it." He grinned.

"Oh, shut up."

"No, you shut up. Forget about talking to yourself, or the sky, or the blue lady or whatever that was and go and talk to Logan. Or whatever you guys do." Max smiled and rolled her eyes at Zane before taking his advice and retreating to the inside of the space needle. Zane watched her leave, then turned his eyes to the horizon.

"Who knows," the CO said, taking his sister's place on the edge of the landmark. "Maybe there's a happily ever after out there for the rest of us too." Zane heard his sister's laugh from inside the space needle and smiled, glancing out at the skyline once more before turning to follow her.