A/N: i didn't get any reviews last time. i hope people are still reading this. if i don't get any reviews for this one maybe i wouldn't finish it. if you want more you gotta review. anyway here's the next chapter.
Max sat on the couch in the living room going through the books Giles had brought while everyone else was in the kitchen. She sensed someone next to her and turned to see who it was. "Ben?" Max asked.
"Yeah Maxie it's me."
Max shook her head and scooted away from him. "No. You're not Ben. You're the First." Max said.
"Max it's me, Ben. Remember I used to tell you stories and make shadow puppets for you when you couldn't sleep."
Max thought for a minute. Well maybe. She thought. She really wanted it to be him. It had been so hard on her after he died. "Ok maybe you are him." Max said.
Then Ben's face turned cold and angry. "You killed me Max."
"You asked me too. I didn't want to." Max said.
"Yeah but you did it anyway."
Max was near tears when Ames walked into the room. "Max it's not him." Ames said. Max immediately stood up and walked over to him, tears streaming down her face. Ames just held her. He wanted to kill The First himself for what it was doing to Max. He knew it had been hard on. Max had told him about it at one point.
"Oh look Maxie's sleeping with the enemy. Wonder what Zack would say? Oh wait that's right he doesn't even remember who you are. You made sure of that, didn't you? Renfro was right. You are poison. You destroy everyone that loves you." The First said then disappeared in a flash of light.
Ames just her cry on his shoulder. "Shh Max, it was him. Whatever he told you, it's not true." Ames said trying to comfort her but it didn't seem to be working too well.
Max pulled away and looked at him. "But The First was right. I did kill Ben. I didn't have to but I did." Max said.
"It wasn't your fault, Max. He asked you do it. I'm sure he doesn't blame you." Ames said again trying to comfort her.
Max just shook her head. "Maybe Renfro was right. I am poison. I destroy everyone that loves me." Max said.
"I love you and you haven't destroyed me." Ames said.
"I'm sure the Conclave would say differently." Max said.
"Screw what they think. I love you Max, and you couldn't destroy me even if you tried." Ames said. Max cracked a smile and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Ok let's go. We should tell Buffy what happened." Max just nodded and followed Ames into the kitchen.
Buffy immediately knew Max had been crying. She walked up to Max. "What's wrong? What happened?" Buffy asked.
Max didn't think she could explain it without crying again. She looked at Ames, look in her eyes told him she couldn't do it. "The First got to her." Ames said. "It was in the form of Ben. He made her feel guilty about what she did, to him and Zack."
The potentials looked at each other confused. Willow looked at them and said, "I'll explain later." She walked over and hugged Max.
"Max I'm sorry." Buffy said joining in the hug.
"Thanks guys. But I'll be fine, I promise." Max said as they broke the hug.
Later that day, Willow and the potentials where in the living room. "So you want to explain to us now, Willow?" Kennedy asked.
"Oh right. Well what exactly do you want to know?" Willow asked.
"Who are Ben and Zack? And what happened? What did Max do?" Molly asked.
Willow sighed. This could take awhile. Willow thought. "Well first, Ben and Zack are Max's brothers. Well not actual brothers more like really close friends that you like of as family."
"Oh ok. So what happened? Why does Max feel guilty?" Molly asked.
"Well first you guys should know that they're like Max. They're transgenics too." Willow said and the others nodded. "Ben kind of went, for lack of a better word, crazy. He started killing people. Anyway, Max found him, they fought, and he asked her to kill him." Willow said.
"And she did?" Kennedy asked.
"Yeah she did. She took it pretty hard too." Willow said.
"Aww man. That sucks." Kennedy said.
Willow nodded and continued, "Zack was in love with her. He even killed himself so she could life."
"He really did love her." Molly said.
"Yeah he did. Anyway, Max found him but he didn't remember anything. She helped him remember but apparently Manticore, the place that made them, brainwashed him to kill Logan." Willow said.
"Who's Logan?" Kennedy asked.
"Logan was the man Max used to love or thought she loved. I'm not really sure which. Anyway, Zack tried to kill him, Max stopped him by electrocuting him. He didn't die but it wiped out his memory then instead of trying again she sent him away to live with a friend of Logan's." Willow finished.
"No wonder Max was so upset." Kennedy said.
That night, Max laid in a sleeping bag on Buffy's bedroom floor. She'd actually managed to fall asleep.
"Max" a male voice whispered.
Max sat up. "Ben?"
"Yeah Maxie it's me. It's really me this time." Ben said. He looked over at the sleeping man on the floor next to her. "He really does love you, you know."
"Yeah I know. I love him too, Ben."
"Yeah I know you do, Maxie." Ben said. He looked at a sleeping Buffy. "She loves you too. They all do."
"Yeah I know. I love them too. They're my family too, Ben." Max said.
"Yeah I know." Ben said. "You've got a big battle ahead of you. You have to be strong, Max. They need you. You can't let The First get to you. Because none of it's true. I don't blame you for what you did. I ask you to kill me. I love you, Max. I'll always love you."
"But it was so hard after you died."
"I know and I hate that I put you though that. I wanted to tell you then but they..." Ben said looking up. "Wouldn't let me."
"You mean you're in..."
"The good place. Yeah."
"What about Zack? I didn't have to send him away but I did. I took the easy way out, Ben."
"Zack'll understand."
"Yeah well he always said Logan would get me killed and now I'm in love with the man that has tried to kill me."
Ben looked back down at Ames then looked back at Max. "He's changed. He wouldn't let anything hurt you, Maxie."
"I know that but I really don't think Zack'll care."
"Sure he will. He'll see it, like we all do."
"You really think so?"
"Yeah I do." Ben said. "Promise me you'll be strong."
Max nodded. "I will Ben, I promise."
Max sat up and looked around. Buffy sensed Max was awake and looked at her. "Max, what's wrong?"
Max smiled. "Ben. I saw him. He told me he didn't blame me and that I had to be strong."
"Ben was here?" Buffy asked a bit confused.
Max shook her head. "No in my dream."
A/N: did you like it? let me know. oh and just incase anyone was confused dream ben was real ben. i think it was pretty clear but just incase.