Here it is. The final chapter of this lovely SpencerxMax that has been supported so nicely. A big thanks to Kenzie Jadenwie, Winter-Rae, HisokaYukiko and Elemental Gyspsy for reviewing Chapter 7. Also a big thanks to Elemental Gypsy, Kenzie Jadenwie, HisokaYukiko, I Love Hott Evil Men, and Winter-Rae for reviewing the first draft of this chapter. sweatdrops Enjoy the update!


It had been a week and a half since the big blowout at the BBA reunion and Max and Spencer were back to living their normal lives. Their midterms were over which meant that they could simply relax with one another while enjoying the gorgeous fall weather. They hadn't heard from most of Max's teammates or his parents since, but Kai called almost everyday to check on them. The others had started keeping in touch more as well which was exciting for the younger blond. The pair was sitting in their apartment watching the movie RENT when the phone started ringing. Spencer picked up the remote and paused the movie, but neither stood to answer the phone content to let the machine pick it up. Eventually the phone stopped ringing and the machine beeped. Both stared at it in surprise when Judy's voice came through the machine. "Max, it's your mother. Your father and I would like to have dinner with you tonight. We think that we need to talk to you about some of your life decisions. Please meet us at Japanese restaurant just down the street from your apartment at six o'clock. We'll see you tonight." The machine beeped signaling the end of the message being recorded. The two blondes looked at each other skeptically.

"Are you going to go?" Spencer asked cautiously. Max's parents had become a sore spot for the American turtle ever since the Tates had found out about their relationship. Max hadn't spoken of his parents willingly for a week and before that he spoke of them with anger showing clearly in his voice. After that Spencer had avoided the topic to keep from stressing his lover.

Max shrugged. "I honestly don't know. Let's finish the movie and I'll decide later whether or not I go. I probably will just so that I can reassure them that I'm not leaving you no matter what they say or do." Spencer nodded and pulled Max into his lap to cuddle as he turned the movie back on. "If I go, will you go with me?"

Spencer looked down at the mop of golden hair that was sitting atop his Max's head. "I don't think they want me there." Max shrugged his indifference to what his parents wanted and Spencer smiled. "If you want me to go I'll go. I told you that I'll do anything you want me to do within reason." Max nodded and turned his attention to the movie as he intertwined his fingers with Spencer's.

They spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing curled up together with nothing to distract them from each other and their memories. As Max cuddled into Spencer's chest yawning both blondes couldn't help but remember their one year anniversary. It was also the first time they made love and a day neither would ever forget. They had spent the night in an almost identical position and it had become a favorite way to cuddle over the course of their relationship.

Max used his key to get into his boyfriend's apartment as he smiled widely to himself. He was thrilled that they were celebrating at Spencer's place instead of going out. The young blond had every intention of taking their relationship to a new level and it would just be easier to stay at home rather than go out to a nice restaurant. Besides, we'd have to get all dressed up to go out. Max chuckled to himself as he made his way through the tiny apartment. He knew the layout almost as well as the layout of his own dorm room or his room at his parents' houses. He rounded the corner into the kitchen and smiled at the sight in front of him. Spencer was standing at the counter putting the finishing touches on their plates and humming along with the radio he always left on while cooking. Max walked up behind the Russian quietly and for once undetected. His arms slid around Spencer's waist gently as he buried his face in his boyfriend's broad back. He hummed softly when Spencer's only reaction was to squeeze the younger blonde's hand. Spencer put down the spatula he was holding before removing Max's hands from his waist. When he turned around he let the turtle wind his arms around him once again. Spencer smiled softly at his boyfriend before placing a gentle kiss on soft, full lips.

Max grinned up at Spencer as the elder hugged him tightly. He leaned up in hopes of getting a second, longer kiss and was quickly obliged. When they parted Spencer raised a questioning eyebrow. Max sighed and rested his head against his boyfriend's shoulder. "I want to be yours completely Spence. I want you to have all of me" he whispered softly.

Spencer's initial reaction was to squeeze him gently. Then he questioned his young boyfriend's decision. "Are you sure Max? I know we've talked about this in the past, but are you sure you're ready? You weren't looking for that kind of commitment after you and Ray were together for so long."

Max nodded as he sighed. "I'm sure Spencer. Ray and I were together for a long time and we were very committed, but it's different with you. I don't think I ever truly loved Ray and I think the same goes for him. We mistook our emotions towards each other as romantic love when really it was just the love of best friends. I want to be with you Spencer. I've thought about it a lot and I'm one hundred percent sure about it."

Spencer kissed the top of Max's head gently. "Let's have dinner. We'll see where the night takes us."

Max shifted so that he could look up at Spencer and smiled softly. The Russian raised the same questioning eyebrow he had on that anniversary and Max grinned. Instead of saying anything he decided to simply snuggle back into his lover's chest and let his mind wander over more memories that he rarely had the time to indulge in. School kept them so busy that it was hard to get time like this together. There simply weren't enough hours in the day to get all of their work done and spend quality time together. There were days when it seemed that the only time they saw each other was right after they woke up and right before they went to bed. On those days they were barely able to have a conversation let alone time to curl up and enjoy each other's company. Spencer shifted slightly as his mind wandered back to the day he suggested to Max they move in together.

"Huh?" Spencer couldn't help but chuckle at the confused expression on Max's face. Max looked at him curiously and tilted his head to one side in confusion. "You want to get an apartment together when my parents don't even know we're dating? How's that going to work?"

"I don't know. We'll get a two-bedroom apartment close to campus. I saw one advertised today. We can afford it and we wouldn't have to tell your parents that we'll be sharing a room. They can allow themselves to be under the delusion that we are simply living together for convenience. It's that or we could just tell them we're dating. I realize you don't like that idea, but it's still a possibility. It's up to you." Spencer watched Max's thought process through his eyes. It always amused the Russian because he was so used to being around people who didn't give a single clue as to how they were feeling. Max on the other hand was an open book to anyone who bothered to look.

"Okay. I want to do it. It'll be a lot better than any other possible alternative. I don't think we'll tell my parents yet though. I'm a little worried about how they might react. They don't like you." Spencer shrugged off the last statement. He knew well enough that the Tates didn't trust him and didn't like that Max was spending so much time with him.

"I'll call the realtor tomorrow and set up an appointment to check out the apartment." He pulled Max close and pressed their lips together in a gentle kiss. "I love you Max."

Max grinned like a Cheshire cat at the confession. "I love you too Spencer. Always."

Spencer looked down at Max and smiled when he realized that the turtle had fallen into a sound sleep. He glanced at the clock and regretfully realized that he would have to wake his lover so that they could go to dinner with the Tates. Smiling softly he lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss to Max's lips to wake him up in the most pleasant way possible.

The pair walked into the restaurant where they had been told to meet Judy and Mr. Tate. They spotted the two in the back of the restaurant and were immediately surprised by the people sitting there. Not only were the Tates there, but Tyson, Hilary and Kenny were all sitting there as well. Max slipped his hand into Spencer's looking for support from his much stronger lover. The Russian squeezed his turtle's hand gently as they headed towards the table. Tyson spotted them first and glared. "You weren't supposed to bring him Max. It was just supposed to be us!"

Max glared at his former best friend. "I was under the impression that it was going to be just my parents and me. Not that it makes any difference. I wanted Spencer to come because I feel better when he's around and it's easier for me to say what I want to say. I don't let people walk all over me like I used to because I know that I have him to fall back on. If all you planned on doing is talking me out of being with Spencer then we can cut this short. I have no desire to listen to any of that shit again. I made my decision. You aren't going to change it no matter what." Spencer's fingers tightened around Max's hand in an attempt to calm him. He didn't care that Max was speaking loudly because the restaurant was devoid of other customers. He was more worried about what the doctor had said the day before about his scores on the stress test being much higher than it should have been.

"We want you to be happy. Happy and safe and we simply don't trust Spencer to keep you safe" Hilary explained.

Spencer glared at the group as he tugged on Max's wrist gently. "If that's all you have to talk about then we'll be leaving. Max doesn't need this kind of stress again. Let's go home Max. I don't want you to have to go to the hospital again."

Max nodded and stepped closer to Spencer. "I made my choice. Spencer is the number one priority in my life and will be until the day I die. That's not changing. I'm sorry that you won't be a part of our lives anymore. You all meant so much to me, but I won't give him up for you. I just won't."

The Tates, Tyson, Hilary and Kenny all watched as Max and Spencer walked out of the restaurant hand in hand. "We've lost him then. He'll never forgive us now."

----

Max climbed into bed as Spencer placed his book down on the bedside table. "Are you okay with what you did tonight Max? Will you be okay without them as a part of you life?"

"Like I said at the reunion, I have a new life to live and it centers around you. I'm not giving that up no matter what."

Spencer smiled softly at the American. He turned off the bedside light before leaning over and pushing Max flat on his back. Max smiled up at his lover as he twined his arms around Spencer's neck. The Russian whale pressed their lips together as he shifted into a better position. Their lips moved against one another in perfect synchronization as their tongues flicked out to meet each other. They truly loved one another and they would never let anyone destroy the happiness they had found in one another. Never would they let go of their soul mate.


There you go! The updated chatper eight. I hope you enjoyed it enough to review or re-review! It would be much appreciated!