"Jon," Kim stuttered. "You want to get married?"

"Yeah," he replied with a grin. "Don't you?"

"I don't know . . . someday. I suppose. I'm only 20! I haven't finished school yet, and I can't just run off and get married. I have too many responsibilities right now Jon!"

"Let me help you," he countered. "I love you Kim. You're not alone in this. You never have been."

"I . . . You're serious? You really want to get married?"

"Hey, I asked. It doesn't have to be tomorrow either. We can take our time. I don't even have a ring or anything."

"This is crazy."

"No, it isn't. So Kimberly Brock, will you be my wife?"

"Jon . . . Yes."

13131313131313

I'm not sure that I can do this, Kenny thought, a few days later. How do I just go up and knock on her door? She probably hates me or thinks that I'm dead. I'm going to destroy her life again. Look what happened last time. He eyed the beachfront bungalow from across the street, as he tried to summon up the courage to go up there. Maybe she isn't home?

"Wow," he said aloud, as that notion was immediately discarded. "Max."

He couldn't help but stare, as he slumped down in his seat so she wouldn't see him. She looks amazing, he thought, drinking her in. I never thought I'd see her again. Who is that guy with her, and why is he coming out of her house at eight in the morning? Ignoring the wave of jealously passing over him, he couldn't tear his eyes off of her. Why is she hugging him?

13131313131313

"Thanks for last night," Aaron said, as they broke apart. "I guess I made an ass of myself."

"Who hasn't?" Max asked. "You can sleep on my couch anytime."

"Hey it isn't every night that I get to wake up with two beautiful ladies."

Max smiled. "I'm sure Kaylee will be glad to hear it. She adores you."

"Maybe someday I'll have one of my own. We should go out tonight, and find both of us new boyfriends. When was the last time you went on a date?"

"I'm never dating again. I've told you that," Max replied. "I'm done."

"Ahh, you've been saying that for two years. I will break you out of that habit. How about if we find you some stud muffin lifeguard down on the beach. All oil slicked and ripped?"

"I think that is your type more so than mine. I'm fine on my own Aaron. I have Kaylee, my job, some good friends, and you're all the man that I can handle right now."

"You're impossible. I'm going to call you later today. Are you going to be at work?"

"Around nine. I have to drop Kaylee off first."

"Have fun," he said. "Thanks again."

13131313131313

"What the hell is that?" Kenny asked, as he watched Max come outside for a second time this morning. "Does she have a kid? Did she and Jimmy . . . Is that what Skeeter meant?"

He watched as Max lifted the little girl into the backseat, and strapped her into the seat. Jimmy had to have known that they had a kid together, he thought, there isn't anyway that Max wouldn't tell him that.

I have to go talk to her.

13131313131313

"You look exhausted. Do you have the Amanda Pearson file?" Anna Knuth asked. knocking on the doorframe. "Maxine?"

"Sure," Max said, fishing it out from the pile on her desk. "I just finished it yesterday."

"This is good," Anna said, as she skimmed the file quickly. "We need to get that girl out of that house."

"I know."

"Good work. I'm going to pass it off, and we'll see what happens."

"Thanks," Max said, as Anna left. Looking around the cramped office, she leaned back in her chair. I just got the strangest feeling, she thought, as she shuddered. Shaking off her dark thoughts, she turned back to the children's advocacy files in front of her.

"Maxine?" Heather Seeders, the receptionist called. "There is someone here to see you. He doesn't have an appointment, but says that it is important. Do you have the time?"

"Hmm, sure. These files are all beginning to blur together anyway. I'll be there in a minute."

She brushed her hair back off her face, and straightened her skirt, before walking out front. I hope it isn't Aaron, she thought, giving me more love life advice. I meant it. I'm done with men. Now and forever.

"Hi Max," Kenny said, as she rounded the corner.

13131313131313

"You and Kim are getting married?" Skeeter asked. "Wow. This week has been full of surprises."

"We are. What else happened?"

"Are you sure? It dredges of the past few years, and things we'd rather forget about."

"What?"

"Kenny showed up. Asking about Max."

13131313131313

Max just stared at him, and it was like she had seen a ghost. This isn't real, her mind screamed, he isn't here! He can't be here! After everything that happened . . . Oh god. I thought that he was dead . . . Kaylee. What am I going to tell him about Kaylee? How did he even find us?

"Max?" he asked again, as she took a step away from him. "Yeah, this has got to be a surprise."

She continued to stare at him speechlessly, as she struggled to find the words to say to him.

"Do you know him?" Heather asked. "Maxine?

"What?" she finally said distantly. "Yeah. I know him."

"Are you okay?"

"No . . . Uh . . . Yeah. It's fine."

"Max," Kenny tried again. "Hey. Yeah, this has got to be a surprise. Wow. You look great."

"You look . . . I thought . . . Why, how are you here?"

"It's a long story," he replied, not taking his eyes off of her. "I'd like to tell you. Actually, there is a lot I want to tell you."

She shook her head. "I can't do this. You can't be here. This is some strange dream or something. It isn't real."

"It is, Sweetheart," he countered, aching to touch her.

"Don't call me that."

"Can I talk to you then?" Kenny asked, as she took a step back. "Uh, I went to Rome looking for you. I talked to Skeeter for a while, and he told me a lot of stuff. A lot of it surprised me."

Kaylee, she thought, he knows about Kaylee. "I'm sure it did . . . Later? I can't do this now."

He just looked at for a moment, and tried not to be offended by the fact that she looked violently ill at the sight of him. "Later is okay sweet . . . Max. Here."

"What is it?" she asked, eyeing is outstretched hand as if it might bite her.

"My hotel information and cell phone number. Just take it."

She accepted it, as she tried to process that it was actually Kenny standing there in front of her. "Okay, um I'll call you."

"I guess I'll just go," he said after a moment, as he fought the urge to hug her close to him. "I missed you . . . I was an idiot to leave."

"I'll call you," Max repeated, vowing not to spill the tears that threatened. "I need to get back to work."

"I'll be waiting."

13131313131313

"Jesus Christ," Littleton practically yelled. "Are you serious? Wait, isn't he supposed to be dead or in a coma somewhere? Do we even know where Max and Kaylee ended up?"

"No," Skeeter replied. "She sent flowers for Jimmy's funeral, but after that I guess she wanted to start over."

"What did you tell him? I can't believe he isn't dead."

"I thought he was too. I told him just about everything, except for Kaylee. I just thought that should be left up to Max, if he finds her."

"Is he still here?"

"I told him to go, and when I called the hotel he had checked out. I don't want a lot of unpleasantness stirred up."

13131313131313

"Are you okay?" Heather asked. "You look like you're going to pass out."

"What? I'm fine," Max replied quietly, trying to get herself back on an even keel. "I've got to get back to work. Thanks."

Almost fleeing back to her office, she shut the door quickly and sunk into her chair. Kenny! What the hell is happening, and what did Skeeter tell him? It's not like I can call and ask him. He probably hates me because of what happened to Jimmy. He's dead because of me, and Kim gave up so much to raise the boys. What am I going to do? What am I supposed to say to him?

13131313131313

"She hates me," Kenny spoke aloud, as he drove the rental car back to the hotel. "She

actually hates me. I repulse her."

13131313131313

"That was a good idea," Littleton mused. "I wonder how she is going to react to seeing him again."

"I don't know. I doubt it will be good though. The guy broke her heart, which essentially caused her life to implode."

"She had choices. Her and Jimmy though . . . I think he loved her, and she just used him as the rebound guy. I guess we'll never know."

13131313131313

"Hey I love to baby-sit," Aaron said. "Do you actually have a date?"

"Not quite," Max replied, watching as Aaron lifted Kaylee over his head. "You're sure? I know it's last minute."

"It'll keep me from crying in my drink if I can spend the night with this beautiful lady. Where are heading off to anyway, and when can I expect you home young lady?"

Max smiled despite her trepidation, "It's kind of personal, and I don't know. I really don't want to talk about it Aaron, please."

"You okay?"

"No . . . I'll have my phone on. I actually have to make a call first though."

"Hey, we'll just hang out here then. If you want to talk about it."

"Maybe, thanks," Max replied, giving Kaylee a kiss on her cheek. Slipping into the kitchen, she pulled out the slip of paper that Kenny handed her earlier. Punching the numbers in quickly, before she lost her nerve, she shuddered. I don't even know how I feel about any of this. Or him.

"Hello?"

"Hi. It's Max."

"I was hoping it was you," Kenny replied. "How was work?"

"Fine. Are you at your hotel?"

"I've been here all day."

"Let's get this over with then. I have your room number, so how about a half an hour?"

"Don't sound so excited about it," he countered, a bit put off by her attitude. "A half hour is good. I'll be in my room. I've missed you, Max."

"I'll see you then. Bye," she finished, hanging up, and leaning up against the kitchen counter. "Shit."

"Mommy!" Kaylee called, as she toddled into the kitchen. "Mommy, up!"

Max grinned, as she lifted two year old Kaylee into her arms. "Hmm, you're getting so big. Are you going to be good for Aaron tonight?"

"Good, good, good," Kaylee repeated, throwing her arms around Max's next. "Pretty."

"And you're beautiful," Max replied, tickling her stomach, as she studied her daughter. She has Kenny's eyes, Max thought, brushing back the little girl's dark auburn hair. "Tell you what Kay, tomorrow we're going to spend the whole day at the beach, and finish that book we started. Maybe get that puppy too."

"I love you, Mommy."

"I love you too," Max replied, feeling surprisingly choked up, as Aaron came in. "Don't give Aaron too much trouble tonight."

13131313131313

"Who says that we'll never know?" Skeeter asked. "I'd like some answers."

Littleton shook his head. "What happened to not dredging up the past? I don't Kim to have to suffer anymore, and I know she holds Max responsible for happened to Jimmy. I won't have her upset again."

"I get that. Talking to Kenny though . . . It just made me want to know how everything worked out. Do you think that they'll get back together?"

"I really don't know."

13131313131313

Kenny jumped slightly, as a soft knock sounded at the door. She came, he thought, part of me was afraid that she wouldn't. He took a deep breath, as he yanked the door open to face Max for the second time that day.

"Hi," she said before he could get a word out. "You picked a nice place here."

"I got a deal," he replied, holding the door open. "Do you want to come in?"

She paused, a bit unsure how she felt about being alone with him. "Um."

"I'm not going to hurt you, Max. We've both got some stuff to say, and it's probably better that we do it in private. I doubt you want the whole world knowing our history. I take it that your co-workers don't know? Child advocacy? That's great. I can see you being really good at that."

"I didn't tell anyone about you and me. My co-workers? They know the bare minimum about me, where I come from, and . . . everything else."

"Do you want to come in?"

"Okay," she agreed, stepping past him and into the room. "Did you order food?"

"I figured that you wouldn't have eaten before you came over here. You looked nauseous when I left this morning."

"I'm not hungry. What is so important that you had to track me down? What else can you possibly say to me Kenny?"