Disclaimer: don't own anything

Pairing: M/A

Summary: it's over

A/N: this is the last part in this story but I have a sequel in mind so there might be more. Sorry if it sucks super tired and using this to practice typing correctly. Reviews always welcome.

Revised Borrowed Time,

Chapter 15,

Hope:

Review:

And suddenly she could see it. With wide eyes memories forced their way to the surface. Little times when he was there for her. When he held her or followed her home thinking that she didn't know. She laughed a little, ironic laugh as tears came to her eyes. How could it be that she never knew? "Alec I love you too." Max whispered to the nearly empty room.

: End review

Max dressed quickly in the clothes that she had laid out. A loose pair of gray sweat paths, a tight black t, and a blue and green flowered scarf. When she had finished she woke Ray and helped him dress before leaving the safety of her old room. Her heart ached as OC smiled at her from the couch asking about how she had slept and other normal stuff. The X5's heart broke at her friend's kindness and she wished so much that she could tell her… more then once the words rose in her throat only to stick there. It had been so many months. She had lied for so long.

Shaking his head Alec dished food onto plates for OC, Max, Ray, and himself. The group ate in silence and then the beautiful black woman dashed out the door, hugging Alec and calling a quick goodbye to the other two. Once the door had slammed and the sound of her steps had faded Alec moved to clear the table of dirty dishes. As he collected the plates Max started the sink, taking the dishes from Alec as he held them out above the counter.

"So Ray…" Alec turned his attention to the quite child seated on the lumpy sofa against OC's wall. "My name is Alec."

"I know. Max talked all about you on the way here. She says I should grow up to be just like you."

Shocked Alec turned around looking into Max's face as she bent over the sink. "She said that?" Alec asked his eyes sliding from the woman's face to the child's.

"Yes. She said that she was sorry to. That it was a mistake to leave. She was afraid. Auntie says it's ok to be afraid."

"That's right baby." Max said as she dried her hands on a rag she found hanging near the sink. "It's ok to be sad too." The petite brunette said as she crossed the room.

Alec watched in silence as she pulled the little boy into her lap, wrapping her arms protectively around his, hiding his face against her small body. The X5 started when the child broke down in sobs only a second later. He sank into one of the kitchen chairs amazed as she caringly caressed the child and whispered comforts in his ear. When the crying ceased Alec realized that it was only because the child had fallen asleep.

"Does he?"

"Ever since I told him we were coming back." Max explained, her hand absently rubbing Ray's back. " The city reminds him of his mom."

"What does it remind you of?" Alec asked still looking at her as if she weren't really there. His eyes basically asked who she was and what she had done to the girl he had come to love.

"If I tell you the answer to that then I might have to leave again." Max answered seriously.

"Then will you tell me why you left?" The dirty blond asked his hazel eyes pleading with Max for answers.

The chocolate-eyed vixen shook her head. "Not today."

"When?" Alec asked growing impatient.

"I want you to answer a question first." Max declared. Looking coolly at the mocha skinned woman Alec asked why. Evasively Max answered with silence. Her silence filled the apartment and mingled with Ray's soft breathing until finally the hardened solider cracked.

"If I answer your question you have to answer mine."

"Deal." Max sighed. The silence grew again as Max stared down at the carpet while she gathered courage to ask what she had wanted to ask since the day she left over six months ago. "Alec what do you think about me?"

The question confused Alec as emotions surged within him. He vividly remembered the way she had felt in his arms when the two of them sat at the hospital after Dr. Carr had told them that there was no hope for Logan. He remembered the strength in her mistreated body as she insisted on doing what was right for one last time. And then he remembered her saying goodbye and how he hadn't stopped her. Later OC had yelled at him and Sketch shook his head. Joshua had been sad but he understood in a way that neither he nor OC could.

Then again, soon after Max left, Alec began to understand to. He had searched Logan's files and read the entry she had printed. Then he remembered the sound of her sobs and finally seeing her sitting there in front of him he crossed the tiny apartment living room. Crouching down he took her hands into his and looking up into her eyes said.

"I almost died when you left. It was like loosing Rachel once again. Max I love you." Hearing the words Max had so sorely wished to hear all these months she fell into his arms knocking him backwards. Tears of happiness slid from her eyes as she buried her face in his chest.

" The city reminds me of you… you and Logan and all the other mistakes that I've made. I couldn't stay because I couldn't face you. Alec I realized that I loved you before I left and I decided that I wasn't going to lose you too. But I did. When Biggs told me how you had changed back…" Alec brushed away the tears that hysterically spilled from her eyes.

"Shh…" The dirty blond insisted pressing a finger against her full lips. "It's ok. We're all afraid. We're all afraid." Alec held the frail looking woman close to him realizing that he was afraid of loosing her too. But as he came to terms with that he held her out so that they sat face to face. " Max I want to tell you something. After you left there was an accident at Jam Pony. We were exposed and had no choice but to fight back. Ames sent in a group of familiars but even with them there no one got killed. We made it to TC in one piece. That's not the important thing though." Alec took a deep breath as he blurted out the rest of his story.

"On the one month anniversary of the founding of our freak nation a group of us went up onto the roof of the tallest building and we raised a flag that Josh had made. The flag and the baby one of the X5's had both stood for hope. Max on that day I realized that I'd lost all hope in the future when you left town but now looking at you, holding you I realize… Max promise me that you won't leave me again I need you."

As he said it Max knew it was true. She leaned into him again and pressed her lips against his. When she pulled back, tears still in her eyes, she promised that she wouldn't leave and that no matter what happened in the future she was done running.

A/N: Review please!