A/N: Wow it's been close to a year.. I can't say I've been busy but I have and I've been sad and sometimes that consumes us but eventually we find our way back to the things we love and we move on.. I just have a question for those of you who are still reading, do you want short chapter or longers ones? I have the time on my hands to cater to your needs.

Take care love Jenn (:

Chloe looks at Max quizetly "Uh sure what's on your mind?"

Max looks sheepishly around her room; trying to focus on anything but her words, she knows what she's about to say is just going to tick Chloe off.

"Look I thought it over, I'm going home by myself, I'll catch a bus and tie some loose ends in Seattle before I bring you with me. Y'know just to make sure my parents have cooled down a bit."

Chloe knitted her eyebrows together "Yeah no; that wasn't the plan. I just talked to Joyce and she's even on board with us skipping town. We can go get the stash from the principal's office tonight like we planned... you remember this don't you."

Chloe knelt beside Max and cupped her face with her hands

"You're not getting bad, again are you? You didn't black out, again right?"

Max shook Chloe off "No Chloe I'm fine. it's just that… what if I can't protect you out there? Like here I feel we're trapped in a bubble, my powers work here... they started here and what if out there in the unknown I don't know I freeze up or something ..."

Chloe ran her calloused fingers on the outline of Max's jaw "Max you already do that here, it's not going to matter where we are as long as we're together."

This is not where Max wanted to take the conversation but she had to differ from telling Chloe that perhaps yes she was going crazy. Especially the involvement of Rachel Amber.

Max heaved a sigh "You didn't believe me when I told you that Rachel was dancing in the rain. You didn't believe me when I told you she was more carefree than the birds in the sky and the breeze in the air." She lifted her chin and looked Chloe dead ahead.

"How can I solve this tangled mess if you won't believe these simple facts I'm telling you. The fact that you still have feelings for a dead girl doesn't elate of what actually is happening to me and around us." Max's eyes narrowed; trying to catch a hint of remorse or hurt in Chloe's eyes but nothing had set it off.

Chloe simply rolled her eyes as she slumped back into the wall against the twin sized bed. "Max there are many things that I find hard to believe, one of them is the crazy story of Rachel Amber. like she was all over the place so I doubt that given the choose her spirit or whatever would want to stay in the one place she detested the most." Chloe reached over to pull on Max's arm and pull her into the corner of the bed. "I do believe in you though, if you tell me that Rachel has a message from the great beyond then shit it must be important and she knew you're the one to tell me, she knew and knows even more now how important you are to me, to us. The people in this town and shit Rachel would have fought like hell for you too."

Max turned bright pink, thinking back to all the time she didn't reach out, the time she indeed did waste being an inconsiderate jerk. Max sat next to Chloe their knees touching and she reached out to lace her fingers through Chloe's giving her hand a tight squeeze. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to find out. I bet she holds a grudge huh?" nuzzling her head against the crook of Chloe's neck.

"I think she's just more bummed over not being able to snoop through things and catch dirtwad drunk off his ass."

"Chloe I know that you haven't forgotten how I left and I know you will never forget those moments because It's when you had Rachel and she helped but I am so grateful that you forgave me; that makes you bigger than me and I don't know how you did it. How you and Joyce just welcomed me back with open arms. I just want you to know that I know that I don't deserve this forgiveness by I am doing everything I can earn my place, to earn this gratitude." Max wiped her eyes, blinking away tears and pushing fear out.

Chloe smiled faintly, she wasn't going to argue with Max because it wasn't her decision to be made, she had no right to her feelings and whatever Max needed to get past this lump in her throat then that is what they were going to do.

"Come on then, we have a few hours to learn how to pick a lock and get into Wells' office, snag cozy chair, swipe the "Handicap Fund" and be on our way to meet the Mr. and Mrs. Smith aka your evil parents."

"Ha ha ha... don't even worry about it. I convinced Samuel to leave Principal Wells' door open. We're all set. Well unless he turns us in." Max elbows Chloe in the ribs.

"There's not a single person I trust in the shithole other than you so your joke isn't far off and you know how it goes. everyone is out to get me, Maxine." Sticking her tongue out to the younger girl; she gets hit in return with a weak-willed body slam.

"Why yes Ms. Price, I do recall you telling me this about 38298908230 times in the last couple of weeks or so." Max lazily crawls over Chloe and gives her an eager kiss, she smiles against it and pulls back before they can get too comfortable. "Meet me at the back entrance to the school, I'll snatch the keys from wells when he's drunk enough, leave the booze you brought here and I'll leave it at his doorstep. I won't rewind unless I absolutely have to."

Chloe made a face that was more than just disapproving

Max sighed "Yeah Chloe you know I'll be careful."

"Don't be a shit about it, I- we just know what happens when you go too far. I honestly don't think another scare will help either one of us." Chloe slung her shoulder over Max's arm and sighed as she kissed the top of Max's head. "I promised you Powell's and I expect you to keep yours and stay out of trouble."

Max smiled "Alright Price I'll see you there."