Max just stared into her glass. She used her telekinetic power to move the ice cubes around as she was just bored. Cole was still sleeping.

Oh, and thought she was dead.

Well he had killed her. Her premonition of the Avatar's plan was the only thing that saved her. As before, she had cloned herself. One of her was dead, but she was still there.

Her soul belonged to two bodies when she was cloned but when one was destroyed the soul merged as one. She remembered everything.

What am I going to say? "Oh yeah, hey, you killed me, but I'm still here, so try harder next time!"

He would just think she was a shape shifter anyway.

And why'd he and Phoebe have to get along so well last night?

She hated her. She didn't deserve Cole. She would probably just hurt him again. Max thought about sabotaging the relationship. For his own good. The sooner they broke up the less he would fall for her. Again.

She suddenly realized she was pacing. When she planned on coming back to save him she expected it to be all straight forward. Now everything was a mess.

She saw orbs and a figure of Paige appearing. Max rolled her eyes before quickly shimmering out.

--

Cole awoke to see Phoebe sleeping quietly beside him. He sighed, knowing he was way too drunk last night. He vaguely remembered most of the night, it mostly seemed like a dream. The only thing that was convincing him he hadn't been dreaming was the fact that she was sleeping in his bed like an angel.

As he stumbled out of bed he knew he shouldn't grab the bottle. He shouldn't have poured a drink.

Phoebe hated him at the best of times. He so wished he could be with her. Last night made him so confused. When she woke up would she start screaming at him for taking advantage of her? No.. She couldn't. She was perfectly sober and she hadn't protested.

After a while she appeared at the doorway. "Already at it, huh?" she asked cynically.

He just glanced down at the glass and tried to remember how many he had. He knew anything he said would sound stupid – it always did when he couldn't see the floor or remember how many he had.

After he couldn't bear the silence he said, "Is this your cue to tell me everything between us was a mistake?"

For a minute he could have sworn there was hurt in her eyes, but at a second look he saw a blank face, eyes cold.

"Not everything, Cole" she paused for a moment and then added, "Though last night was"

He just breathed out deeply very slowly and felt so mad at her. He wanted to hit something. Smash something. Instead he just rambled.

"What is you plan, Phoebe? Just to hold me by a thread and when I finally start to distance myself from you, you haul me back in. Then what happens?" he asked himself, "You run. This is so over doing the 'hard-to-get' thing.

"You just like tormenting me. You've never had a decent relationship and when one is offered to you, you dance around. Obviously the New Yorker party girl is still within. What are you scared of?"

He glared at her and she glared back. He knew he'd lost her. The ice cold eyes said it all.

"I'm scared of you"

"Belthazor no longer within. Source not here either. Am I scared of you every time you are possessed by a Banshee or whatever? Why the hell are you scared?"

She lost her temper. "I'm scared of a man that is so dangerous he killed his own daughter" she spat at him.

She winced as she saw the absolute hurt on his face. "I'm sorry" she stuttered."I didn't mean--"

"Get out" he whispered softly.

"Cole.."

"I said get out!" he shouted. He stood up suddenly and his chair sprawled backwards. Cole then violently overturned the table he was sitting at. Phoebe jumped. She tried to speak, nothing came out. On his look she quickly rushed out.

He sank to the floor, remembering Max and her hate of him drinking. It affected him so badly, but he couldn't stop himself. Was he an alcoholic?

He felt someone holding him. He glanced up and saw Max.

Great, I'm hallucinating. Did I really have that much to drink? Cole thought as he spiraled into blackness.

--

As Cole stumbled out of bed he strained to remember how he got there. All he remembered was drinking.

He stopped dead in his tracks as he saw Max. He remembered last night.. She was here. Again.

Maybe I've finally been driven insane.

She was drinking from the bottle. His bottle! So she was allowed to drink but he wasn't? Stop it! She isn't really there.

She looked up and he had to stop himself from just sinking into the floor. It had to be her. He sat down.

"You're not real," he mumbled.

"Keep dreaming, mister"

"Shape shifter"

"If that's what you've gotta tell yourself, fine"

--

It was the clone. Why didn't he figure it out before? He'd seen her cheat death before, what made this time any different? Why did he believe she was really dead?

First came the relief. The "Oh-my-God-I'm-so-glad-you're-okay" thing. Then came the anger. First of all for not telling him. She replied that it had to be real, even her clone thought it was real. The Avatars couldn't be easily fooled. Then he was angry with her for not telling him she was alive straight after it happened.

The turmoil! He had really thought he's lost her.. And his life really sucked. And last of all, and silliest of all, he was mad because she was drinking even after all her lectures to him.

Max rolled her eyes and gestured towards the shattered glass and upturned table.

"Oh yeah.. I did that, didn't I?" he winced.

"When I do something like that, feel free to ban me from alcohol"

"So you've banned me? Isn't it usually the strict parent that does that kinda stuff?"

Max shrugged. He just grinned.

"What's with you?" she said, rolling her eyes again. "You're grinning from ear to ear."

"I'm just so glad you're home and alive..." He paused for a moment. "I'm sorry I killed you!"

Max laughed. "Oh you know. Faking my death and all. All in a day's work".

Cole laughed. He was so glad she was back. Everything was looking up again. All he needed was Phoebe and life would be perfect.

If Only..