Chapter One

Hours later, Rose Brennan was sitting in her hotel room, Suite #528 at the Plaza Hotel, twirling a piece of paper around and around in her fingers. "Should I call him? No...he'd think I was stupid...he was probably just being nice, giving me his phone number anyway..." she muttered to herself, as she stared at Max Dillon's phone number. "But I want to see him again, I'm not sure what it was, but he was kinda cute..." she smiled lightly, before she found her hand reaching for the phone. "Alright, I'll call and leave him a message, but what if he's at home? What am I supposed to say? 'uh...hi there Max, this is that crazy redhead from the cab ride this morning, who has no freaking clue why she's calling you, because you probably never thought she actually would anyway'." she mocked herself, before she slammed the phone reciever back down.

"I am such an idiot...and I'd be an even bigger idiot not to call him, what's the worst that could really happen? He'd say no, and in a city like this I'd never see him again anyway, so why not?" Rose shrugged, taking a deep breath, before picking her phone back up and punched in Max's number. Ring...Ring...Ring.. there was no answer, Max was out apparently, still doing whatever he'd had to leave Rose so quickly for that morning, Rose's thoughts were interrupted as she heard a:

This is Max...guess what I'm not here, why don't you leave a message, and if you're lucky I'll get back to you...beep

Rose gapped into the phone for a minute, trying to find her voice, before she suddenly found words pouring out of her mouth. "Max? This is...Rose, the girl from the cab, I probably shouldn't even be bothering you. I, well, I was just a little bored and since you're the only person I've really talked to since I moved here I thought...well I thought maybe we could get together and have some coffee or something. Hey I'm staying in the Plaza, room 528 uh...heh this is silly, sorry I bothered you, bye." Rose said lightly before she almost cautiously hung up the phone, and threw herself against her pillow, letting out a light groan. I'm such an IDIOT! Who leaves a message like that anyway? Yours truely that's who...maybe there will be a power outage and my message will be erased from his answering machine. she thought, still resting her head against her pillow.

"Rose..." a voice suddenly called out to her lightly, as a knock came from her door, "Rose it's me..." the same voice called out, as Rose climbed out of bed, and went to answer the door, to find none other than Max Dillon standing there staring back at her.

"Max? But I...how did you get here so fast?" Rose stood a bit confused, but not objecting, as she stepped aside so Max could come in.

"I have my ways," Max smirked, as he quickly stepped in, wrapping his arms around Rose's waist, before kissing her rather passionately on the lips. "I haven't been able to stop thinking about you Rose, and when I got that message, I knew you felt the same way, I need you Rose...right now. So why don't we stop denying what we really want and...stop suppressing our feelings?" he continued to smirk, as he shut the door behind him, scooping Rose in his arms before he lay her down on the bed lightly.

"I..." Rose said softly, though she knew she couldn't resist, and that she didn't want to resist. She pratically melted at Max's touch, as he crawled beside her, placing soft kisses up her hand and arm, with Rose showing no signs of objecting. "Max...I need you too..." is all she whispered in his ear, before she lay on her back, pulling Max on top of her.

Several moments later, after giving in to pleasure, Rose found herself tangeled up in the sheets next to Max, breathing lightly as she stared up at the ceiling, she was about to turn to face Max, when the phone began to ring.

Rose shot up in bed, realizing she'd fallen asleep, and shook her head lightly, blinking her eyes several times, "What kind of dream did I just have??" she yawned, as she reached over and grabbed the phone, muttering a sleepy "Hello?" into the phone.

"Uh...s-sorry I didn't mean to...wake you up...oh this is Max, I got your message and...well I can't very well leave a beautiful woman by herself on her first night in New York." Max said, though Rose thought she heard a slight quiver in his voice, as if he were just as nervous as she was.

"Heheh, so is that a yes to my coffee idea?" Rose replied, waking up a bit, as she sat up in her bed, leaning back against the headboard.

"You bet, and maybe we could...have a little dinner to go with that coffee? My treat," Max grinned.

"I think dinner sounds great, I'm starving," Rose smiled, as if on cue, her stomach gave a light little growl of hunger. "Tell me when and where and I'll be there. You're the native New Yorker, what are some of your favorite places to eat?"

"Well I don't think you'd like them, but how about we go to this nice Italian cafe down on the corner of 5th and 29th street? Ya can't miss it, and I'll be outside waiting for you, say in an hour?" Max replied.

"I'll be there, bye Max." Rose smiled.

"B-bye..." Max grinned as well, as both hung up their phones.

"Heheh!" Rose stood up, jumping on her bed a few times, as a sort of victory dance, "Dinner!" she squealed, smiling, before she looked at the clock. "Oh God...I have to find something to wear!" she hopped off her bed and ran over to her closet, as she began digging through the clothes she'd managed to unpack so far, to find the perfect outfit. Across Manhatten, Max Dillon was doing the same, only without the squealing.

Rose wobbled out of the yellow taxi that brought her to the cafe, tossing some money to the cab driver, as she smoothed out her very mini skirt once she got her feet on the sidewalk. "Keep the change...use it to buy yourself some driving lessons..." she muttered, before she began to look around for Max. She soon spotted a somewhat familar back of a head, wearing all black, looking around for someone himself.

"Max?" Rose smiled, walking up behind him and tapping his shoulder lightly.

"Rose..." Max said, as he turned to look at her, and look at her, and look at her, before he realized what he was doing. "I uh...hi," he smiled, glancing her over, before looking her in the eyes, "You look fantastic."

Rose returned the smile, and the compliment, "And so do you Max. It's good to see you again, in a setting outside of a smelly cab. Shall we go in?" she grinned.

"Oh right, c'mon I made us reservations after I called you just in case," Max grinned, holding his arm out to Rose, who took it, as they walked inside together. "May I help you sir?" a man asked once they were inside. "Yea, we gotta reservation for two, under Dillon?"

"Yes sir, right this way," The head waiter said, taking Rose and Max to a nice, corner booth towards the back of the restaurant, before he handed them their menus. After several moments of allowing them to look things over, and make their selections, their waiter returned and took their order. Rose got a chicken parmigan and Max got fettucinni alfredo, and a bottle of wine for them to share.

"So what do you think of New York so far Rose? I...I meant what I said earlier, I really would be happy to show you around anytime you need it," Max grinned, as the waiter returned with their wine, and poured them each a glass.

"And I do appreciate the offer Max, and heheh well I think you can see I've already started taking you up on it, cheers," Rose smiled, clinking their glasses together lightly, before she took a sip. "As far as New York is concerned...well it's a bit lonely so far, I left all my friends and family back in L.A., so it's a complete upheaval for me, but I have my first job tommorow with my new agency and I'll meet a few more people then," she grinned, "but I'm also lucky to have met someone so quickly when I arrived in New York, I appreciate your offer Max."

"It's nothin', I was...heh I was more than happy to help you," Max smiled, taking a sip of his wine as well. "And what are you talking about, your...agency? You an actress or something?" he asked, leaning forward with a light smirk playing on his lips.

"Heheh no, thankfully, I grew up with a producer for a father I've known far too many snooty actress types, but I guess what I do is close enough, I'm a model," Rose replied, taking a bread stick.

"A-a model?" Max's smirk seemed to grow, "That's no surprise, a beautiful woman like yourself...I'm surprised you want to be seen with a guy like me, but I appreciate the chance to get to take you out for your first New York meal." he grinned.

"Oh Max, don't say that, I'm honored to be here eating with you," Rose smiled, "And your kind-ness won't be soon forgotten. Speaking of which, what do you do for a living?" she said, taking another sip of wine, before she had a flash back from her rather explicit dream about Max earlier, and she unknowingly found herself staring at Max, with her own little hint of a smirk. She continued to stare, until Max broke her from her trance.

"Me?" Max paused, I'm an evil supervillian bent on blowing up New York and all the people that ever made me feel small along with it. "I'm an...electrician, one of the best I'm told." Max smirked, before he noticed her staring at him. "Rose?" He asked lightly, quirking an eyebrow when she didn't speak for a few moments.

"Hmm?" Rose snapped out of it, before she realized what she'd been doing, and blushed. Nice... "I'm sorry Max, guess I just have...jetlag." she grinned. Nice save!

"Heheh oh jetlag, you know what they say the best cure for that is don't you? Coffee." Max smirked, "And oh how lucky for us, we're heading to a coffee shop after this." he smiled.

"Heheh," Rose giggled lightly, "Yes how very lucky for us. Thank you for getting me out of the hotel Max, is that our food?" she asked, spotting a waiter w/ a tray of food heading their way. It was indeed their food, and after an evening full of eating and drinking coffee together, Rose and Max did eventually have to part ways.

"Thanks again for a lovely evening Max...I hope that....I hope that we can get together again sometime?" Rose asked, as they walked back outside of the cafe.

"Of course! I mean..." Max took a breath, trying to play it cool, "I mean...yea I'd like that." he smiled, "Until then...give me a call anytime," he said, cautiously taking her hand, before planting a soft kiss on it.

Rose blushed lightly, though she was gracious it was dark outside so he couldn't see it, "And you feel free to drop by my room anytime or call yourself, until then Max..." she smiled, giving his hand a light squeeze, before she slowly let go, to head back to her hotel, and Max turned to head back to his own destination, though for him that wasn't home.

RIIIIIINGG!

Rose heard a store's security alarm going off in the backgroud, before she heard and saw a bright, loud explosion burst through the roof of the store, and up from the hole flew a green and yellow clad figure, holding a bag in his hand as he laughed madly.

Electro scanned the streets below for the person he was searching for, he'd just seen her walk this way, and since Max didn't want to move in on Rose too fast, Electro was the perfect candidate to use to get closer to her in the way he truely wanted to...and a little gift thrown in there couldn't hurt either.

"My my my..." Electro smirked, hoovering down closer to Rose and the ground, as he looked her over slowly, "I do believe I'm in love." he continued to smirk, as he looked Rose and her dress over slowly.

"W-what?" Rose said, looking around to find she was in fact the one he was speaking too, as she took a few steps back. Electro was the first superpowered or even costumed person she'd ever come into contact with, and she wasn't exactly sure what to think or do, he didn't seem to want to hurt her, but how could she be sure? "I...what do you want?"

"Heh, I don't think you really want me to answer that question," Electro smirked, "But I don't want to hurt you...I saw you walking earlier and...I got you this," he smirked, as he opened one of his hands towards her, to reveal a rather large pair of pink diamond earrings.

Rose gasped as she stared at them, before she looked back up at Electro, it was wrong to accept something like that from a supervillain but...well let's just say she liked what she saw under that spandex, and he also had her favorite jewel in his hand. "They're...beautiful..." she said lightly, reaching her hand out towards them, and Electro allowed her to take them.

"They aren't the only thing...my dear, would you mind if I...stole you away for a moment myself?" Electro smirked, letting up on his electrical energy a bit so he wouldn't hurt Rose, as he extended his hand towards her.

Rose was hesitant still, but she still found herself placing her own hand back in Electro's, before he scooped her up, and shot off into the air. Rose clung onto him tightly as they zipped over building tops, the only flying she'd ever done was in a plane, and Electro didn't object to the clinging anyway. "We're here..." he smirked, as they landed on a rooftop garden, near St. Patrick's Cathedral, that held a beautiful view of the city.

Rose gaped as she slowly let go of Electro look over the view for a moment or two, before she turned back to face him, "But...I still don't understand? Why did you decide to come after me? I may be new here but...I've heard about Spider-Man, I've heard about a few others and you are...Electro right?"

"You got it in one gorgeous, and why do you think I wanted to come after you, have you looked in a mirror lately?" Max smirked under his yellow mask, as he ran a hand slowly down her shoulder and arm. "Mmm...let's just say, this villain likes what he sees...very much..." he continued to smirk, as he ran his hand further down to her waist, before his other arm wrapped around Rose, and pulled her towards himself. "So what may I call you? I hope it's mine," he smirked, kissing her deeply on the lips.

"I-" Rose paused, returning his kiss, as she felt herself relaxing in his grasp, when he pulled away Rose looked rather breathless, that's because she was. Everything was happening so fast, but she had to admit she liked it, getting showered with jewels, having a supervillain caller, and being swept off her feet to this view of New York...it was showy, and Rose liked showy. What about Max? I have to admit I have feelings for him even after, or I'm starting to anyway, he showed me kindness when he didn't have to, heheh and he's cute. she thought with a smirk, Of course...I can see every muscle on this guy and...heheh I see he fills out his outfit quite nicely, I like his attitude too...what's the harm in talking to two guys? she thought with a shrug, before putting her arms around Electro's neck slowly. "You can call me Rose, and if you want, in time, you can call me yours." she grinned.

"Good enough for me, and Electro will make sure his Rose never goes unhappy..." Electro said lightly, taking the earrings back from Rose's hands, before he slipped the earrings on for her, brushing some of her hair aside to get a view of them. "Beautiful..." he said, slowly running his hands down her back, before he reached her rear end area, grasping it lightly in his hands, as he kissed her lips softly several times.

"Ohh..." Rose said lightly, as he grasped her, and returned his kisses, running her hands down his chest lightly, "Electro...this is..." she started, but didn't finish, as she lost herself in what was going on, "...perfect..." she breathed softly as she and Electro paused to catch their breath. "I hate to break this up but...I have to wake up early tommorow to go to work...but when can I see you again?" She asked, running a hand along his arm lightly as she looked up into his eyes, through that mask.

"When? Whenever you like," Electro smirked, not moving his hands from their spot, as he pulled Rose against him lightly, "Allow me to take you home...why don't we make a date for tommorow night? Same spot, same time?" he asked, as Rose nodded. "I wouldn't miss it...and I'm at the Plaza." Rose grinned, while Electro scooped her up once more, and flew off towards her hotel.

Once they reached it, Electro dropped Rose off on the balcony of her room, and they said their goodbyes, before Rose watched Electro go and headed into her room, smiling quite a bit. She felt like she was walking on air, two great guys in one night, both very opposite from each other, but both of whom she liked very much.

Rose quickly changed into her nightgown, after washing her face and brushing her teeth, she fell lightly down into bed, curling up under her covers...Rose Brennan slept very well that night, with her mind filled with thoughts of both Max Dillon and Electro. They would make sure her first day of work was a good one.

The following moring, Rose awoke early, thanks to a morning wake up call from her hotel, to get ready for her very first photo shoot in the country side of New York. She had set up a rent-a-car and was soon on her way, blasting music from her sleek black convertible, and was singing along, as she left the crowds and noise of New York City in her rear-view mirror, and headed into the state of New York, to green grass and relaxation.

"What...exit was I supposed to take again?" Rose asked herself, as she glanced down at the map she'd left open on the passenger seat beside her, scanning the highways and interstates that covered the state map. "I should've mapped out my route before I started this drive..." Rose muttered, as she passed a sign that read, "Welcome to Putnam County".

"Putnam County, well now that I know where I am, I should be able to find it on the map..." The redhead thought aloud, picking up that map beside her, and began to scan it over, however the scanning didn't last long, as a gust of wind ripped the map from Rose's hands, and it flew out of the open roof of her convertable car, "What?! NO! God damn it...! Now I'm going to be late for my first job here in New York and IMG is going to drop me!" she said, freaking out. "Ok...calm down Rose...you know that exit was around here somewhere, so just...take the next exit you come to and ask directions...yea that's what I'll do."

Five miles later, Rose was exiting off the Interstate, and found herself winding down a small two way street, looking for any sign of life: a gas station, supermarket, anything! She was so busy looking for a place to stop and ask directions, that she didn't even see the truck heading her way as she rounded a corner, unforunately the man didn't see Rose either, he was too busy trying to get the last few drops of liquor out of his flask, and peeked up at the last second, to see he'd swerved into the other lane, when Rose started to honk her horn furiously. However, seeing that the man wasn't listening, she swerved at the last second to avoid a head-on collision, and soon found herself spiraling out of control down a grassy hill, headed either straight for a tree or a lake; Rose opted for the lake and twisted the steering wheel with all her might, to get her car to head towards the body of water. "Stop...GOD DAMN IT STOP!!" she screamed, pumping the brakes, with no results. If she lept out of the car, she'd break every bone in her body at the speed she was going, if she stayed in she'd hit the water and just swim out. Rose took option two.

Rose let out a little whimper, before she took a deep breath and shut her eyes, unbuckling her seat belt, before....WHOOSH! She felt the car give a little shake, as the engine was burnt out by the water, and the car created such a force on impact, that Rose's head collided with the steering wheel, knocking her unconcious as she and her car both slipped slowly further and further under the water.