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A/N: Ok just stating that I'm going to Italy for three weeks so you most probably will not get an update till I get back cos I'll be busy shopping and visiting everyone. If one day it's raining, there's nothing to do and I'm in the mood I might post the next chapter. Oh and I'm also working on another story but that will be posted after I come back cos it's only half finished!

Chapter Eight

"Ever heard of knocking?" Alec asked ignoring the irony of him saying that particular sentence. Feeling the animosity grow inside him he took a breath wondering the reason of the sudden surge of protective anger that had flushed through him.

Max's hand on his arm relaxed his tense shoulder, "It's okay Alec," the panicked fear flittered for a second through her irises as he held her gaze before she bartered it with resolve telling him with that one look a million things at once all of which he didn't understand except one. This was her fight, but what fight that was he had no idea.

Turning her attention back to the man standing at their doorway she seized control of herself, not giving him the satisfaction of seeing her emotions, "Hello Gareth. You haven't changed," she noted lying. He had changed, 8 years since she'd last seen him but she very much doubted he'd amended character wise.

"You have," he replied letting his eyes rave over her body. Alec fought the distinct urge to bloody the leering man in front of him knowing by instinct that Max didn't appreciate it despite the neutral look on her face. The ball of fire he knew as Max was strange enough to probably bloody him. She fought her own battles, always, just like any other X5.

"I'm not a child anymore," she commented defensively chastising herself for it. She'd promised herself she wouldn't let him get to her, she'd known it wouldn't be easy, "Trust me Maxie I can see that."

"The name's Max," she couldn't stop the anger from swirling in her irises, "Oh right I'm sorry. You still hate that."

Letting it go she accepted the apology, "I didn't think I'd see you so soon."

Gareth smiled and shrugged. He was a reasonably attractive man. He had the stereotypical blonde jock look though shorter than expected, a meagre 5' 8". Golden blonde hair slicked back carefully clean-shaven.

"I came to invite you to dinner tonight. I hadn't realised you'd brought your own," he said with a hint of amusement, "I'm hosting a special function. I would be pleasured to have both of you dining with me tonight."

"We'd love to," she nodded and Gareth took his leave. Max hesitated only a second before closing the door and locking it with a click.

She didn't move. Just stood there, using the door as support, feeling his hazel eyes boring into her awaiting an explanation.

"Well Max whenever you feel ready to fill me on all the missing blanks you've left, lemme know alright?" he mocked in exasperation and turned around to walk away. To go back to the bed and collapse on it again, just let sleep take him over and not wake up till tomorrow so maybe he wouldn't have to think.

Damn did he want to stop thinking, about her or about the situation? About why she hadn't denied their relationship, why that had caused an unexpected emotional reaction in him. Anything and everything about the fog bank that was Max.

"Alec I…" she rasped, her voice deserting her for a second stopping him, "It's… it's not something I like talking about," she finished.

Sighing heavily she ran a hand through her new locks and walked ahead of him collapsing onto the couch, "It's not something I've ever talked about; with anyone. Not Cindy, not Logan and not Alden but I think he knows."

Sitting down beside her he sighed, "Mind starting from the start so maybe it'll make more sense?" he muttered calmly.

She paused. Too long perhaps she realized and a long sigh escaped him as he resigned got up to leave but she stopped him again. Stopped him with that firm but gentle touch she'd always used on him unless she was hitting him for something. Her hand was warm and soft grasping his forearm.

His eyes sought hers and he found turmoil within them, something that in the past few days he'd gotten used to not seeing. And now it was there again, blurring everything else into nothingness. Alec sat back down and stared hard at her, not letting her look away. Her voice pierced the air like gunshots so loud in the silence that had fallen.

"After the pulse no one cared about anyone else anymore. I didn't have to worry about foster homes or orphanages. Stray street kids were common. I travelled around, kept a low profile and did what I had to do to get by, used my skills to their full extent," she spoke subconsciously leaning closer to him, closer to his warmth and safety, "When I was 12 I ended up here in Vegas. I'd struck gold. This place was full of money and easy to hide in. The perfect place for someone like me. I never thought that this was where I'd find someone who did care..."

"Alden," the name simply came to him, realization dawning on him but on what he didn't know, all he knew was that it made sense.

He watched Max nod and she pulled her legs up resting her chin on her knees, "I stayed with him. He sorta adopted me. At the time he was Gareth's dad's butler. Mr Geffen took a liking to me immediately. Gareth was his only son and he was already in his early twenties. I gained two parents in the course of a week. A year later and I was getting anxious. I needed to leave I knew that but I didn't want to. The maids, the waiters and everyone always stressed and fussed over me. They cared."

She sighed again, "I decided to leave one night. Earlier that day I'd flushed up and Alden had left me alone in my room presumably sick. I didn't know what was wrong, I'd never been sick. I took my chance and I packed some stuff together and I snuck out of our room. I was bursting with heat and energy and I didn't understand what was happening but I didn't have time realize… I ran into Gareth that night."

Alec held his breath doing a mental calculation. Max was 21; eight years ago she would have been 13. Gareth had most likely just broken 30, eight years before he would have been…

"Okay, when did your cherry go POP?"

"I am NOT answering that question. It's none of your goddamn business!"

"16? 17?"

"Alec, drop it! I'm not telling you!"

"I was 13 alright? Are you happy now? I went into heat for the first time and I had sex with a 20 something year old…"

…everything suddenly clicked into place. Catching her gaze he watched her flinch at the realization in his eyes, "Afterwards I just left. He was asleep. I just up and left and never looked back. It was only later that I realized what must have happened."

Silence. Now he truly knew what a pregnant silence meant and he definitely knew he didn't like it. Not at all.

"So why are you here now?" the words surprised even him despite their quiet, hushed nature.

The same determination and resolve he'd seen while she faced Gareth was back chilled with feigned nonchalance, "He stole something from me. And I'll never get that back. It's time he knew how that feels."

****

Normal slouched in his armchair. A look of loss was almost visible in his glazed over eyes as he stared in victimised despair at the ceiling. A bottle half empty with vodka hung loosely from his right hand. Unshaven and un-kept Normal hadn't seen the likes of a shower for… well however long it was since he'd lost.

He'd promised her he wouldn't lose, promised that he'd win big and then she could have anything she wanted, no matter the cost… and he'd let her down. A choked sob escaped him, and now he was going to have to say goodbye to her for good. He knew he'd never see her again.

The insurance he'd purchased for her would change nothing. In 24 hours she'd be gone. She'd be spotless. Her body sleek and curves smooth would leave him for another.

Normal didn't know if he could watch her go. Everything in the last couple of days was a blur. He vaguely remembered putting OC in charge at JamPony. All he knew, all he could focus on was his grip on Carmen slipping forever out of his grasping fingers.

Normal jumped in surprise, the shrill ringing of a phone bringing him half out of his drunken stupor. Falling on himself he managed to grab a hold of the receiver and answer it before the answer machine collapsing onto the ground from lack of balance.

"Hello?" his croaked questioning voice sounded as his brow furrowed in confusion as he realised he was holding it the wrong way. His vision was blurry and unfocussed, his hearing as if he were underwater but the words the person on the other end of the line managed to cut through the fog in a split second.

She was gone.

Click. The concluding sound of the conversation. The final sound.

They'd taken her away. Stolen her off him.

"This is great," he heard himself say as finally the dim bulb still barely present switched on.

***

The hot shower had helped his groaning shoulders but nothing could erase the words, the look she'd worn as she told him and Alec, not for the first time since he'd met her, was confused, scared, worried, angry. At her. For her. And about her.

Gareth Geffen wouldn't come out of this intact. He'd make sure of that.

Rolling his shoulders again he let out a soft almost inaudible whine at the stab of pain he felt. He wanted to sleep, sleep and not wake up for a few days. Just lay there under the sheets, warm and safe, protected from the world, spooned into her body like at the motel. Stopping that train of thought before it could go any further he huffed and took in his appearance.

A small smile touched his lips at his reflection.

The black pressed pants he wore were creased to perfection and his shoes, shined to the impossible. The black shirt he wore just as smart, the collar closed, rounding around his neck giving no need for a bowtie. Covered by the intricate vest and finally with the tux jacket over the top he looked like he'd just hopped out of the 1800's. All he needed was the top hat.

Sighing again his thoughts returned to her determined face. The stoic expression ingrained on her features and in his mind making him worry. His hand ran through his hair messing it up not ruining the look in any way. Damn did he want to stop thinking!

Almost like an answer to his plead Max stepped out of their room. His mind searched frantically for the knowledge on how to make coherent sentences but he couldn't.

He'd thought she looked amazing in red but she looked stupefying in cream.

The mirthful smile he'd gotten used to her wearing was back in place and Alec was pretty sure her eyes were laughing at him but that smile was worth it.

The dress was simple enough. Tight in all the right places flowing down to the floor and even with a bit of extra trail. No straps were present and a small fleeting thought on how it stayed up flashed through his mind. The smooth material curved with her flesh and did nothing to hide her ample chest or the skin of her back as it cut lower.

Mocha flesh and coffee bean hair were the perfect harmony with the cream, exulting her beauty with no regard for Alec's health.

"I thought I'd continue with the theme of our week. Cream is perfect," she smiled amused.

Drawing his eyes away from her body he looked her in the eyes, loose curls framing her face unrestrained by any hairpin completely not hearing a or understanding a word she'd said, "Yes it is," he said anyway more to himself than anything.

"It's a C.R.E.A.M. world Alec. Might as well live it to the fullest," she laughed hooking her arm through his and letting him lead her out of their room.

"C.R.E.A.M.?" he asked confused walking into the elevator.

"Yes Alec. Cash Rules Everything Around Me," she explained nudging his shoulder the grin still present as the metal doors drew closed.

Alden smiled reminiscently whispering to himself and the empty hallway, "It's nice to have you back Maxie. It's nice to have you back. Mr Geffen would have loved to see you now."

***