A/N: Hey guys! I'm really sorry it took me forever to update; I've had so much schoolwork and a lot of dance classes. Anyways, I'm sure you'd rather read the story opposed to my boring life. I think this story might be over in the next chapter or two. :D Feedback please!

P.S. I know this chapter's kind of short but I'm going to make the next one longer. Thanks!

WARNING: Do not eat while reading because it may be a choking hazard! That good, elle? LOL

Max stepped inside her apartment with Jack in her arms tugging at her hair, so she was relieved to see that Cindy was eager to take him off of her hands.

"You're gonna spend some time with Aunty Original Cindy, aiight my little boo?" she said to Jack. "We're gonna have some fun while your mommy gets some lovin'."

Jack giggled and Max blushed furiously.

I must have some blushing condition, because it's happened a hell of a lot recently.

"You know we're not like that, OC," she insisted. "We just need a break from Jack."

Cindy looked at her skeptically. "You really are the Queen of Denile. Don't start that whole 'we're not like that' shit again, unless you want me to put the smackdown on your ass. Pretty boy's fine; don't tell me you don't have the hots for him even just a little." She looked at Jack who seemed to be agreeing with everything she was saying. "Besides, who needs a break from this cutie-pie?"

Max shook her head, suppressing laughter. "Believe me, he's even worse than Alec if that's at all possible."

"Then a little bit must come from you, huh?" OC countered, and for a moment Max was at loss for words.

"You'll see what I mean," Max said. She tickled Jack's belly. "Thanks."

"No prob, boo. I've been waiting to see you happy for awhile. But..." She smirked. "If you want him to stay over because of some... activities going on, just call. Or don't show up if you're too busy." She wiggled her eyebrows.

"Oh stop," Max said. "I told you, we're just getting dinner." She opened the door yelling a goodbye over her shoulder.

Cindy closed the door and lifted Jack up so that his eyes were level with hers.

"Yeah, they're getting dinner. But what's for dessert?"

Max and Alec followed a waitress to a table beside a window and sat down, scanning the menus quickly and ordering, the waitress rushing off to the kitchen. There was a moment of silence and Max counted the seconds in her head.

Alec nodded absently, running a hand through his hair in a way that made Max want to run her fingers through it too.

"Think O.C.'s gonna be able to handle that little tyke?" Alec asked finally. Max grinned and he looked at her with a confused expression.

"Almost a full minute," she said. Seeing that he wasn't understanding, she clarified. "You haven't talked for almost a full minute. That's got to be a record for you."

Alec smirked, warning her that he was going to say something she wouldn't like. "Depends on what activity I'm doing."

"You're such a smart-ass," Max said, rolling her eyes in her typical manner. "Can't you get your mind out of the gutter for at least 5 minutes?"

"Hey, I'm a guy, remember? To quote Sketchy, men either always think about work, work, work or sex, sex, sex. And I think Logan's a fine example of what all that work can do to a person. So you should be happy that I'm this way."

He has a valid point, she thought. Whoa, back up. Did I just agree with Alec? And on that particular subject? Poor Jack. He's not going to have a very good upbringing when his mother's in a mental hospital.

"Besides," Alec continued, completely oblivious to Max's thoughts, "wouldn't you prefer a guy who knows how to have a good time?" He gave her cheeky smile, clearly indicating who he thought that guy should be.

Max felt herself melting. Definitely, she thought dreamily, not even bothering to stop her thoughts by now. She came back to reality when the waitress came back, her arms loaded with plates. She set them down and Alec thanked her with a charming smile that made the girl giggle as she walked away.

Max tried to fight down the bubbling jealousy and instead turned her head away, her irritancy clearly shown on her face. Stupid blonde, she thought. Who cares who Alec smiles at?

But from deep inside her she knew the answer that she didn't want to admit. I do.

"Hey. Max, I know you want me all for yourself but you have just got to learn to share," he said cockily. "It's another quality you might want to have."

"Yeah, yeah. I know I'm not Miss Perfect so will you get off my case?" she snapped. She shook her head. This was going so far in the opposite direction she had imagined. Or maybe all those dinners with Logan had turned her into a sap who actually wanted a little romance in her life, she didn't know. All she knew was that she wasn't going to bother wasting another minute trying to do something that wasn't going to work out.

She stood up to leave but Alec grabbed her arm, pulling her back down to her chair.

"I'm sorry Max. Look, just sit down, okay? Please?" he asked. He actually looked honest for once in his life so she gave in and sat down. He cracked a joke to lighten the mood. "Touchy little thing, aren't ya?"

She opened her mouth to fire back a comment when something occurred to her. Why did it have to be him who always unsettled her, and put her on edge? Why did she always have to be the one who got pissed or shocked? It was time to turn the tables and let the playful Max come out. Too bad playful Max didn't always think with her head.

She smiled leisurely, a predatory look on her face. "Not touchy. I'm just not going to do something that's not worth doing?" Her smile stretched even wider. "But if you're a good boy then maybe I can show you some real fun."

She reveled in his stunned expression that slowly relaxed into one that was all game. The next half hour was spent with him trying to eat as quickly as possible.

"I wonder what they're doing," Cindy said as she and Jack watched reruns of Jerry Springer. She cringed. "On second thought, I don't think that would fall under the PG category, so I don't want to know."

Jack pointed to the screen where a man was yelling at his ex-girlfriend that even though he slept with her best friend, she had no right to repeat the action with his. Cindy nodded her head at Jack. "You're right, little boo. That man is an idiot." She flipped the channel and found a TV show called "Who's the boss?" Strangely and disturbingly, a bunch of teens were working at a pizza place where someone who reminded her of Normal pushed them around.

"Get those pizzas delivered!" he shouted. "Do you think they're going to drive themselves over to the customer's place? Move!"

"Bip bip bip," Jack said. Cindy looked at him in horror.

"Jesus, I think that short time around Normal corrupted him," she said to herself.

"Bip bip bip," Jack repeated, watching the television.

Original Cindy put her hand to her temple, looking as if an apocalypse was coming.

"Just when I thought all crisis's were over and done with, here one comes," she muttered.

"Max, when you said we were going to have some fun, this wasn't exactly what I had in mind!" Alec yelled.

They had driven about 80 miles down to a bridge that was high over a lake, and the aforementioned bridge was what Alec was clinging onto for dear life, while Max laughed and did cartwheels across the thin beam, scaring the hell out of him.

"What exactly did you have in mind?" she teased.

Alec waved a hand out. "You know. I thought we'd go back to my place…"

"This is fun!" she shouted over the wind. She looked down at the lake. "Let's jump!"

Alec looked at her as if she had just grown another head. "Are you crazy? The water's fricking cold and in case you don't remember, I have feline DNA. I hate water!"

"So do I, but it'll be fun," she repeated.

"It'll leave Jack an orphan, that's what it will do," he retorted. He didn't know what the hell had gotten into her. It was more like him to do something stupid like this, not Max.

He looked down and then hissed, squeezing his eyes shut.

"What? Are you scared?" Max taunted. Alec's eyes snapped open.

"No way in hell," he said. She smirked and walked toward him.

"Max?" he asked cautiously. "What are you doing?"

She put an arm around him and he looked at her strangely.

"Have a fun ride," she said sweetly. Then she pushed him and laughing, jumped in right after.

Alec shuddered with cold as he and Max walked into his apartment, sopping wet.

"Who are you and what have you done with Max?" he asked, teeth chattering. "For one thing, you haven't hit me for 2 full hours. And I can't believe I'm saying this but Idon't think pushing me off a bridge counts."

"Stop being an idiot Alec," she said, although she was shivering too. She took off her wet jacket and didn't bother to make it to her room before starting to strip off the rest of her clothes. Alec blinked and then grinning, he leaned back against the wall and watched.

"No peeping," she said, walking toward the bathroom. He watched, disappointed, as she disappeared but his smile returned when she came back clad in only a bathrobe.

"See, this is my idea of fun," he said, walking up to her and taking the risk of putting his arms around her. For once, she didn't push him away.

He let go for a minute to start up a fire in the fireplace and went into his bedroom to change into dry clothes. He walked back into the living room to find Max asleep in front of the fire.

"Just my luck," he said to himself, but nevertheless there was a smile on his face as he watched her chest rise and fall slowly. He picked up a blanket and then curled up beside her, wrapping his arms around her until he too fell asleep. But not before giving her a kiss on her cheek, and missing her lips curve into a smile.

"Well, since your mommy and daddy haven't called, O.C's guessing they're not ready to have you home yet," Cindy said to Jack while warming up his milk. She grinned to herself. "Original Cindy knew that if there was ever a person to melt my boo's heart, it was gonna be her boy."

The microwave dinged and she took out the bottle, squirting a bit on her wrist. "That seems okay."

She handed the bottle to Jack but as soon as he took a sip he flung it across the room. She frowned, picked it up and tested it again, but it was the right temperature.

"What's wrong?" she asked. She handed it to him again but he wouldn't take it. She sighed and started mixing another. The result was the same.

"Who are you? Goldilocks in disguise? Come on boo, Original Cindy doesn't have that shark DNA you seem to have so she's getting tired."

On the third try she finally seemed to get it right because he drank it down quickly and was out like a light.

"Tough crowd."

Max stared at the dying embers while trying to sort out her thoughts. She took in the warmth coming from Alec's body and snuggled closer to him. The past week or so had its ups and downs, but Alec had always been right there with her, not leaving her to do his own thing but helping her with what he could. She knew that she felt something more towards him than friendship, and she sometimes got a feeling that maybe whatever she felt for him was returned. But could she actually have a relationship with him? Would he be as considerate in the future as he had been for the past week? Something told her that he would.

Max bit her cheek, trying to decide if she should take the chance. The thing with Logan had turned out to be a disaster but then again Alec wasn't Logan. He was a smart-ass with an attitude, but who was also caring and oh-so attractive. Everything a girl could want.

What have you got to lose?

She turned around and almost had a heart-attack when she realized he was awake and watching her. He didn't say anything though; he just smiled at her and stroked her hair.

"Why do you have to be so perfect?" she mumbled against his chest. He chuckled.

"Nice to know you think of me so highly Max," he said. She hit his arm, but it was lightly, a far cry from the usual hard punch she usually gave him.

"Hmm, you must be getting soft," he remarked. "Because that definitely lacked the usual 'I'm going to kick your ass' vibe." He wiggled his eyebrows. "Then again, I'm so desirable you probably wouldn't want to damage me."

She groaned. It was just like Alec to say something like that, but then again, if he didn't she'd probably think something was wrong with him.

"You such an ass – " she started, but she didn't get a chance to finish because the next thing she knew his mouth was on top of hers and she couldn't form any sort of sensible thought.

He didn't push her. He kissed her fervently but he didn't force himself on her and she was grateful for that. When he pulled back he rested his forehead on top of hers, looking at her wide-eyed expression.

"An asshole, yeah I know. But you love me anyways," he said.

She ran her hands up his chest. "Is this your version of fun?"

He grinned. "Definitely."

A/N: Okeedokee, I'll let you draw your own conclusions as to what happened. LOL I know. I'm evil. Then again, this is a K+ fic. Next chapter's the last one guys. Feedback is much appreciated!

Thanks to -

jracklesfan77 - Thanks!

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girlofcherrys - Thanks! Fab to have a new reviewer!

w1cked angel - Thanks! LOL They're not going to get completely together until the next chapter, which will probably be the last one. LOL And about what happened in the apartment, I'll let you use your imagination.

wildsky - Thanks! Great to have a new reviewer!

Caboodle - Thanks! If Max had said yes to Alec's proposal, I think the poor guy would have died of a heart attack.

MonDieu666 - Thanks! LOL Alec gets beaten just because he doesn't fight back. I mean, if he liked Max, do you think he would want to mess up her face? LOL

Mystic Fayth - Thanks!

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HoneyX5-452 - Thanks! I don't know how I make it funny. I'm just very sarcastic in real life. LOL Sorry I haven't been reviewing lately, my internet's not working and I barely have time to go on ffnet with all my homework.

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SitaTheLastVampire - Thanks! You're little cousin glares? LOL Thanks for the idea! I'm going to use it in the next chapter. Hehe. Want to know what happens when Logan tries to take care of Jack?

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Thanks everyone and please give me feedback!