Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel…disappointing, I know.

A/N: FYI Logan did not follow them. Bessie sat there with Logan waiting and watching—kind of like the situation where he jumped to the conclusion that Max and Alec were a thing in the series, ep. 17 "hello, goodbye"—he wanted to see if Alec was telling the truth, that Max was really there, of if he was covering for her. Oops, guess Alec's story proved true enough that Logan sat there too stunned to move.

A/N2: Now for chapter 5. Please read and review.

Funeral for That Which Never Was

Chapter 5: Rest in Peace

And if this is giving up, then I'm giving up

If this is giving up, then I'm giving up giving up on love, on love.

The ride out of town allowed Max a lot of time to think. She thought long and hard about what it meant to be in love, which was an interesting feat considering she had her arms wrapped around Alec's midriff. She knew that she had invested too much and gotten nothing in return for whatever it was she had with Logan. But it was finally over. She didn't have to think about him anymore, she could get through the rest of her life better without him getting in her way. But, now that Alec seemed a larger part of her life, she felt confused. Relaxed, but confused.

For now, she figured she would just enjoy his company. It wouldn't be worth anything if she jumped into a relationship again, if he even wanted one with her any way. It would be partial rebound on her part, and she didn't want to use Alec like that anymore. She was too hard on him as it was. He didn't deserve to be treated like that.

The two transgenics drove to the ocean, and down the coast. Max had said her baby needed a vacation, Alec was giving them all one. The moonlit ocean was one of the more spectacular sights. Even with the Pulse, the Pacific—minus the bits of floating riot debris—was one of the few places where it was acceptable to feel peace.

Alec pulled off the road outside a diner. Food was always a good idea. Max nodded her approval as they dismounted the motorcycle. "I think I'll have pancakes," she said decisively.

"Pancakes? At this time of night?"

"Alec, it's three AM. We're lucky that we found a diner open 24 hours, and pancakes are perfect breakfast food. I don't see the problem."

Alec held up his hands in self defense. "Pancakes. Go right ahead and eat those pancakes. Personally, I would like a peanut butter ice cream sunday."

Max blinked looking at him. "Peanut Butter. Ice cream. Sunday."

"Yeah."

"I love peanut butter." Max continued to stare at the transgenic before her, nearly dumbfounded. Then she clasped her hands together and leaned forward. "Can we share?" She asked, like a child.

"No." Alec crossed his arms over his chest defiantly. "You wanted pancakes, I don't think you have any right to ask if we can share my peanut butter ice cream sunday."

"Oh, come on, Alec. Please?" She pleaded.

Alec considered her request with ardor, holding his chin, until he gave in, "Maybe a spoonful, but nothing more."

But both of their hopes were dashed when they stepped inside the diner and ordered. They soon found out that the pancake mixer had run its final leg and they were out of ice cream. Max glowered, having been jipped out of both pancakes and peanut butter.

Alec glanced over at her slyly, winked and stepped up to the order window through which he held a quiet discussion with the cook.

Five minutes later, he returned to their table with two glasses of chocolate milk, a jar of peanut butter and plate of hash browns. Alec set one glass of chocolate milk and the plate of hash browns in front of Max when he approached the table, sitting on the opposite side with his own glass and the jar of peanut butter which he cradled against him like a baby, thrusting a spoon aloft as if in victory.

He brought the spoon down and said, "It's not pancakes, but will it do?"

"Yeah, it's breakfast. To be honest, I'm more interested in the jar of peanut butter you were somehow able to score."

"Cost me ten bucks. Can you believe it, a jar of peanut butter for ten bucks!"

"In this economy, yeah, I can believe it." Max eyed the jar lustfully. "So. Can I have some?"

"No way. I'm out ten bucks, therefore I will be the consumer of the precious peanut buttery goodness."

"Greedy."

"Yes, thank you."

"Egotistical."

"Well, it's not one that I like to admit to."

"Selfish."

"Ok, I'll let you have a few spoonfuls, but I get most of it."

"Only a few?" she asked innocently.

Alec pointed his thumb into his chest, "Out of pocket, baby. I think I deserve it."

"All right," Max relinquished. "I guess I beat you up enough you need a little support. And peanut butter is the best recovery food," she said matter of factly.

He smiled in agreement and settled in to eat his peanut butter spoonful by spoonful, taking a sip of chocolate milk occasionally. Max shook her head, smiling, and ate her hash browns. When they were gone, Alec was still scooping spoonfuls of peanut butter into his mouth. Max watched him expectantly.

"Wha'?" He asked around a mouthful when he caught her eyes watching him.

"When do I get my spoonfuls?"

"Uhm…" He swallowed.

Max could tell that he was seriously considering never giving them over. She picked up her spoon and moved over to his side of the table, sliding into the booth beside him.

"What do you want, you mooch?" Alec asked moving the peanut butter out of sight.

"Let me have my promised share and I promise I won't cause you bodily harm." Max said, a glint in her eyes.

"Yeah, right. You kick my butt just for fun. You wouldn't give up a stress relieving activity just for a few bites of peanut butter." He didn't believe that the source of Max was so simple.

"Are you sure about that?" She threatened.

Alec considered her. "Nope. Sorry, but the peanut butter is mine."

"Really?" She reached her spoon across his stomach toward his back, where she knew he was harboring the jar. She was able to dip her spoon in the jar and extract a small amount.

But, before she was able to bring it to her lips, Alec grabbed her wrist and proclaimed a defiant "No."

Max merely leaned forward and ate the peanut butter off her spoon, his hand still restraining her arm, their faces mere inches apart.

He didn't think. He simply brought his face closer to hers, their lips touched for what seemed like an eternity. Then, his mind met his instincts and he pulled away sharply, as if he'd been slapped. "I'm sorry," Alec leaned back against the window, putting as much distance between them as the booth would allow without pushing her off the seat.

"It's alright, Alec." Max stood up and crossed the table back to her own booth, noticing his discomfort, but she couldn't help but feel a little hurt.

"No, really, Max. I should know better. Especially so soon after Logan…"

"Alec. I say what I mean, and I said it was alright."

He sat for a moment, and then he brought the jar of peanut butter to the table, moving it toward her like an offering. Max smiled at the gesture and grasped the jar, his fingers beneath hers in the exchange. Their eyes met in an unfamiliar gaze.

"Thank you," Max said, and the moment dissipated, returning the two friends back into their comfort zone.

The sun crept through the window as dawn encroached on their mini-vacation.

"Damn." The quiet word was spoken with so much disappointment that Max wasn't sure what Alec was referring to: their separation after the kiss or the inevitable end to their night away from life.

"What?" Max hoped for both, but she suspected he meant their return to the city and, therefore, work.

"I'm going to be exhausted by noon!" He complained.

"And why's that?"

"Because, you kept me out all night. I never got any sleep! Some of us aren't naturally gifted with the need for less sleep, ya know."

"Naturally gifted?"

Alec merely cocked an eyebrow in her direction. "You know what I mean."

Max sat back against the booth. "Well, since it was my fault and all, I could cover for you at work. That should let you get at least a few hours of shut eye before Normal starts calling you like crazy until you walk through the front door."

"I may just worship you for that."

"You're easy to please."

"Oh, did I say that out loud?" He asked sarcastically.

Max stood. "Come on. If we don't start back now, I'll get it from Normal, and my word won't count for anything—even if it's for you."

The two transgenics returned to the black Ninja sitting outside the diner, and headed back to Seattle, making the Space Needle the arrowhead of their compass.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed it. I did. Please review and let me know.

A/N2: I've been working a lot lately, so I haven't had much time to get online with my stupid dial-up to post. The benefits? I have three total new chapters for this fic to post now. Please continue on to chapter 6…btw, don't you just love the chapter titles for this fic? I think it's fun…morbid, but fun.