Note: Sorry for the lack of updates recently, school and work have been especially hectic and they take top priority. That being said, this will probably be the only update for a while. My sincerest apologies to anyone who has been waiting for this to be updated, believe me, it is just as frustrating to me.

Many thanks to Player Zero, Kenrai, Kamakaze Kheri, C-Fan, and MePo for taking the time to review! As always, it is very much appreciated.

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade.

Gold/Golden

The media only ever caught the good times.

The times where Max was nothing but grins and Mariam coy smiles, enjoying each other's company no matter the scenery. They would photograph long awaited greetings in the airports and reluctant goodbyes at hotels; the simplest gesture of chivalry to the grandest expression of romance. It was unequivocal happiness and love created by the spark that intensified by their proximity.

Magazines were filled with articles on the couple, depicting assumptions and flaunting opinions on the romance. The initial shock of the former Bladebreaker sweetheart being with someone, and they never knew quite how to word it, like Mariam soon died to the confusion of their relationship lasting longer than a few weeks. Various publications had multiple issues with the pair gracing the cover, even if just in a corner.

What the media never caught was the animosity and the venom that seemed to lurk on Judy's tongue whenever her perfect son was around the object of his affection. She would look at them tight-lipped and unimpressed, a snide remark in her arsenal for every moment. She made it clear to everyone that Mariam was not the one for Max; she was nowhere near his league.

Most of the time Mariam didn't care. She had thick skin from dealing with the imbecile boys she had grown up with and her own past with a parent that disagreed with everything she believed in. Most of the time Judy's attempts at brushing her away only ended with Max being hurt, stressed, annoyed, or all of the above. And sometimes Judy's little digs just made Mariam want to push back with either a sarcastic remark of her own or finding new ways to make Judy's son a darling shade of red and mortified beyond belief.

Most of the time. Today was an off day and Judy's continuous bruising remarks sent Mariam into a steely glare. It had supposed to have been a friendly dinner amongst the couple, Judy, and the All Starz; simple and tension free. With a huff, Mariam stood from the table, eyes full of challenge and directed at the smug, blonde Mother. The table was silent and an air of awkwardness filled between the All Starz and Max.

"I'm not dealing with this today," Mariam marched from the New York apartment's kitchen and soon after a slam of the door was heard, signalling her exit.

Judy rolled her eyes, looking back down to her plate of food. "Good riddance."

As the Mother carried on as if everything was suddenly right with the world, the gazes of the other guests slowly turned to Max. Most of the time Max was the accidental recipient of his Mother's tirades and though he often buried those emotions, times like these caused a different course of action.

Max dropped his utensils down loudly on his plate, the commotion causing Judy to look at him questionably from across the table. His face was twisted with a mixture of emotions, all jumbled on his tongue and fighting for precedence. Max stood from his seat just as brashly as his girlfriend had moments ago, the difference being that he stood hardened in place, fists closed and tightening at his side.

"What's your problem?" Max finally yelled, his voice hitching in the process. Michael, Eddy, and Steve exchanged glances as the boy's emotions flooded out of him; Emily turned her head away from the scene that was about to manifest. "Why do you always have to do that?"

"Max," Judy said with a warning, "I'm just being honest with her. Also, watch your tone; you're starting to act just like..."

"I'm not going to watch my tone!" Max barked. His team mates flinched, all avoiding eye contact except for Rick who merely sat in silence as his good friend struggled with his frustration. Judy opened her mouth, annoyance written on her face when her son broke away from the table, shrugging her off. "Forget it. You don't understand at all, at least she tries."

His Mother scoffing was the last thing Max heard before he slammed the apartment door behind him in his final act of protest. He immediately went for the stairs, ushering down them as quickly as possible. Mariam was not the most patient person when angered and he knew in her current state that she too would opt for the same path.

"Mariam!" While his hand gripped the railing tightly, knuckles white, his voice's edge had dropped off to a worried tone.

There had been times in the past where he had let his Mom win, for lack of better words, where he hadn't gone after his girlfriend. And though, in his defense, his Mother hadn't been as biting, he still kicked himself. Thankfully, as Judy had gotten worse, Max had grown a spine, mainly because he saw what her words could do to Mariam.

"Mariam!" He called her name again, his voice rising in concern as he made a swift turn on the staircase. Max felt his chest deflate as he came to a sudden halt on the fifth floor. She stood by the wall, stony faced with her arms crossed, as she looked in his direction. "Mariam, I'm sorry..." His words trailed off in an attempt to catch his breath.

"Don't apologize for her," Mariam said stiffly. She turned her head away from him and in the direction the stairs continued to descend. She sighed, "I'm going back to the hotel to cool off, go back upstairs if you want."

Before Mariam could even move an inch, Max had bolted from his spot on the staircase to block his girlfriend's exit. "No," he said firmly, shaking his head as he placed his hands carefully on her waist. "I'm not letting her talk to you like that anymore."

Her expression softened briefly and she let her gaze trail away from his beautiful, sincere eyes. "Really, Max. You can go. I won't be mad." She groaned when his penetrating stare did not relent, "I promise."

"I have eyes, you know." Believe it or not, they were hard to miss. She knew all too well with her history of being on the receiving end of his over-emotional expressions that not only was he trying to help, he was struggling. Max made a strange growling noise with his throat, head titled downward to shadow his frustration. "I can see how she affects you."

Unfolding her arms, Mariam brought a hand to his chin, tilting his head back up so that she could look at him dead in the eyes. "I'm fine."

Max's expression remained full of frustration and, of course, disbelief. She frowned at him and his stubbornness, wanting nothing more but to scurry down the remaining five flights of stairs and out of the horrid apartment building.

"Max!" For once in her life, Mariam was relieved to hear the nasally voice of Michael creep up from behind them. Max, on the other hand, did not look as pleased as his gaze looked over her shoulder. "You should probably come back upstairs, Judy's pitching a fit."

Rolling his eyes, Max tiredly ran one of his hands through his blond hair. "She can cool down then," he finally said, his attention back to Mariam with a light smile. "Maybe next time, she won't start anything..."

Michael scoffed, a slight cackle in his voice. "Whatever you say, man. I'm not the one that's going to be grounded forever." He waved them off, continuing to laugh to himself as he sauntered back up the stairs.

"We both know that's not going to happen, Max." Mariam gave him a levelled look, serious and beautiful as ever. "She's always going to have a problem with me."

"And I'm always going to love you," Max smiled, his left dimple more prominent on his cheek, accentuating his face as usual. He took a hold of her hand with his own, lacing his fingers through hers as adoringly as possible. "If she thinks she can change that, she's wrong."

Mariam bit her lip. "Max..."

"If you think that, not only are you wrong too, but I haven't been doing a good job of proving myself to you." Max brought her hand up to his face, pressing his lips sweetly against the top of her knuckles. She sighed for what felt like the tenth time in this particular hallway, not wanting her boyfriend to go on a sudden guilt trip. "Let me prove it to you?"

His sudden question caught Mariam off guard; she raised a single, delicate eye brow with inquiry. "How?"

"Let me take you out for dinner, this time just me and you. Anywhere you want to go, no annoying team mates and definitely no Moms. I don't even have my cell on me, so she can't call and interrupt like usually does." Max looked at her hopefully, pecking the top of her hand once again. "Come on, please? It's all about you tonight, no one else exists."

"Well, in that case..."

Mariam smirked, walking past the blond and pulling on his arm by their tethered hands. He laughed softly, following behind her as they meandered down the steps rhythmically. The sound of their footfalls made Mariam thoughtful for a moment and she squeezed her boyfriend's hand.

Not looking at him, she cleared her throat. Hesitant and concerned her voice would break and carry her emotions, she stated her feelings as simply as possible. "I'm sorry your Mother doesn't like me."

"Me too," Max agreed, a smile on his lips from the honesty and truth behind her words. These were emotional waters she did not want to tread, at least not right now, so Max merely squeezed her hand back just as sincerely as she had done and decided to keep his words just as true. "She doesn't know what she's missing."