Disclaimer: Still not mine, I'm afraid.

A/N: Yes, it's harsh. I know that. It wrote itself that way. I swear. It's just that I always thought, that there has been so much shit between them, that should they ever get to the point of getting on with things it would all have to come out in the open first. And I know that was a very cruel place to stop, but I couldn't help myself, I have a streak of mischief in me a mile wide. I had intended this to be a very light-hearted, frothy Max and Alec finally come together thing, but the angst just ambushed me when I wasn't looking and now it is like this. I hope you like it anyway.

Chapter 6

"Don't you dare walk away from me, Alec McDowell." Max all but screamed.

Alec froze. In a deadly voice, he asked: "Or you're going to do what? Beat me up, because I can tell you that the time when I was a willing punching bag are over. So what are you going to do?"

All he heard was a sigh of defeat, then a tiny whisper. "I might die."

Once again the tone of her voice had the ability to turn him away from what he believed was right.

"Don't give me that. That would actually imply that you felt anything in that stone cold heart of yours."

For the first time, Alec really looked at Max, really looked past what he was expecting to see, and it floored him.

With tears in her eyes, Max looked at him: "You do not get to say what you said and just walk away. I will not let you. You can't say you love me and then just walk away as if it means nothing. Yes, I planned this whole thing tonight, but I had a very good reason. And you are damn well going to listen to it. If you then still want to leave, then there is nothing I can do to stop you." He gaze fell to the ground and she whispered something, that Alec couldn't make out.

Her head lifted, he saw her swallow and she said: "Well? Do I get five minutes?"

Even though Alec knew this was a bad idea, there was nothing he could do. This was Max, the woman he loved more than anything, how could he say no, even when he hated himself for giving in once again.

"Five minutes."

Max sighed and drew shaking hands through her curls, unsure where to start.

"You met me at a really bad part of my life." She caught his slight eye roll. "No, there was more to it than the virus and being back in Manticore." She took a deep breath, then told him her secret. "The first thing Renfro told me when I came out of the hospital was that Zack had killed himself to give me a heart, had shot himself to save me. At that moment I decided that I deserved to be back at Manticore to pay for my crimes." Alec only just managed to stop himself from going over to Max and taking her in his arms.

"It was my fault we were there in the first place. It was so easy to let myself fall back into the mindless drone, not having to think for yourself. I deserved every minute. And then I met you. You waltzed into my cell and said we were breeding partners. In the first second I couldn't get past that you looked just like Ben, the other brother I had failed."

"You didn't fail him." Alec stated it matter of factly.

Max just smiled at him sadly. "If I hadn't failed he would still be alive. You stood there, so full of life and I remembered why we had left in the first place. You were the reason why I left."

"Couldn't get away from me fast enough?" Alec wasn't sure his heart could take much more of the truth.

"That's not it. I realised that I was selfish. I was letting them win. I had to leave and try to get you all out, and we managed that in the end - with your help. But there was a price to pay. That stupid virus, taking away one of my best friends."

"Friends? I thought he was the love of your life."

"It was easy to tell myself that. What is more safe than a boyfriend you can't touch? Where you never have to find out if you could mesh and live with each other. The whole star-crossed lovers thing."

"So why the hell did you bang on at me for months, how I ruined your life and all that jazz."

"Because it was easier, okay. Easier to tell myself that, so I wouldn't have to face the truth."

"Which is what? That you fell head over heels in love with me as soon as you clapped eyes on me?" Alec scorned.

Max took a deep breath, lifted her head and looked him dead in the eyes and said: "Yes."

This time it was Alec's turn to go deathly white. 'She didn't just say what you think she said, mate. It can't be. You misheard.' "Yes, what?"

Max took a deep breath. "Yes, I fell for you the moment I clapped eyes on you."

"That's a sick kind of joke."

Max laughed a decidedly shaky laugh. "I have lived with this for a year, believe me, it's not a joke."

"You can't love me. You would have had to show it." Alec was grasping for straws, because if she had made them both so miserable for nothing, he didn't think he could forgive her.

"Have you never heard the saying, you always hurt the one you love? Plus, I didn't deserve you."

"WHAT?" Alec couldn't believe his ears.

"I don't deserve you. I'm a grade A bitch, I have anger management issues and this bleeding heart thing. I constantly get you into trouble and then blame you. And I owe you my life several times over. As does Logan although he would rather die than admit it. You didn't have to tell us that my touch could kill him, but you did. How could I let White kill you after that? I took you away from all you knew and then yelled at you for not fitting in. I had ten years to find my way, you had a year. And I hated that it was so much easier for you, that you were comfortable in your skin, that you didn't give up your transgenic side to fit in, try to make yourself human."

Alec felt like he had fallen through the looking glass, he knew that Max was speaking English but couldn't be sure of the meaning. "You think you don't deserve me?"

Now, Max did flare up. "How often do you want me to say it. I don't deserve you. So I was really mean to you. I'm not proud of it."

"So what you are saying is that you loved me from the moment you saw me and I loved you from the moment I saw you."

"Yeah."

"What about Logan?"

Max flushed. "Now that I am really ashamed about. I strung him along, led him along for a long time. I knew I did not love him that way, but it made things so much easier, I thought. Look how wrong that turned out.. I caused everybody so much misery. I don't know why I am even saying this." She sighed. "You're right. You should go. It is probably for the best."

Max turned away and said: "Just don't make me watch you leave, okay. Just go." Her head fell once more as she waited for the sound of Alec's steps to fade into the distance.

There was nothing.

Steeling herself, Max turned back and saw Alec right where she had left him, still without an expression to tell her what he was thinking.

"I gave you five minutes. They're not up yet, plus I would like to hear the rest if it, before I decide."

"Decide what? Never mind. It's your life." Max bit back the tears.

"Where was I?"

"You caused everybody so much misery."

Max sent him a baleful glare. "Yes, I lashed out at everybody. I was miserable, I gave my best to make you miserable, punishing you for something that was not your fault, and I made Logan miserable. Thank God for Cindy."

"What has she got to do with it?"

Max smiled a fond smile: "She knows me better than anybody else, maybe better than I know myself. She saw through me from the beginning where you were concerned. She kept telling me and nagging me and razzing me. I would get so mad. Always saying, 'your boo has just walked in'. And I would automatically deny everything. But she kept going, until finally I couldn't take it anymore. We had a massive no holds barred fight about you, and she told me that if I could honestly say that I felt nothing for you she would never mention it again, but if there was even the slightest truth in what she said then I should go down on my knees and beg you for forgiveness." Max glanced at him. "She really likes you, you know."

Alec didn't say anything, this was all going to fast. At Manticore he had once read some of the great German classics. He couldn't quite remember who had written it and at the time he had had no idea what it meant, not surprising in a place like Manticore. Yet here and now with Max standing in front of him pouring her heart out, he finally understood. 'Himmelhoch jauchzend, zu Tode betrübt. Glücklich allein ist die Seele die liebt.'

"So, I did what she said. Went away and had a long think, and I didn't like it one bit. Cindy was right with everything, so we came up with a plan."

Alec's attention snapped back to Max.

"A plan?"

"Yeah, you see I wasn't always a miserable cow with a martyr syndrome. I used to have fun and a laugh. Cindy and I decided maybe I should rediscover the real me and then I could find out if you could ever see yourself loving that person. The chain was a kind of symbol, to me, that I was becoming my old me again. So I guess you are right, it is a way of life." Max ran out of breath. Even Manticore could only do so much.

"Why didn't you just tell me?" Alec whispered. "Did you think I would laugh at you?"

Max shook her head vehemently. "NO! Don't even think that for a second. I trust you. I just didn't know what to say, so I decided to let you find me. Cindy told me it was a half-assed plan, guess she was right." She sighed, shoulders sagging.

"So, what's the verdict? Are you staying? Do I have a chance? Or did I ruin everything? Again." Max looked at Alec, who regarded her without saying anything. Nervous she continued babbling. "I ruined everything didn't I? I always do. I can't get anything - mpf!"

Alec had had enough. Snaking one hand behind her neck, he hauled her in and silenced her the only way he knew, by kissing her senseless. For timeless moments the world fell away and there was only the two of them, exploring, sinking into each other, drowning in each other. With a final nip at her full lower lip, Alec drew back and looked at Max. Her hands rested limply on his forearms, eyes half-closed and the purely female look of satisfaction on her flushed cheeks filled Alex with warmth. Settling her head against his shoulder, he drew her in for a hug, aligning her curves with the angles of his body, marvelling at how well they fit.

"Alec?"

"Mmmm?"

"Not too late then?"

Alec laughed and, tipping her head up, drew her in for another kiss.

A/N: Okay, I am not sure about the exact translation, seeing as I can't remember who said it, so you are going to have to make do with an inexact translation. It means something along the lines of: "Though high as a kite, while depressed to the core, the only truly happy soul is one that loves."

Epilogue coming up, there are still some unanswered questions after all. But mostly fluff, drama is over, hope you stay for the credits anyway.