Pack the tissues, here we go

Episode 29 - Goodbye William

"Max, please…" Chloe sobbed, gripping onto her father tight. "Don't make me do this."

"If this is a joke, I don't get it..." William said, very confused. He was interrupted by the phone ringing, passing them a questioning glance before wriggling out of his daughter's hold to answer it.

All the young brunette could do was watch him, her eyes shifting to Chloe. The blonde was still crying, quieter than before. Max could almost hear the cogs turning in her brain as she weighed up the cost of intervening.

"Chloe, we… we can't," she stuttered, tears in her own eyes. "You know what happens if we do…"

"Why not? I've seen what you can do, Max." The blonde stopped to listen to her dad's conversation, allowing herself a watery smile before turning back to her friend, expression hardening. "How is this any different? Just tell him not to buy me that car."

Shaking her head solemnly, Max continued trying to convince her. "I know. And YOU know if I could change this, I would. I love William like a father, but I LITERALLY can't. I have no control over this. I'm sorry, Chloe."

Obviously expecting a different answer, Chloe frowned. "But why? Who says so? Max, you're a fucking time traveler. You can do anything. You brought me back to life, Kate, so many other people. Why not my fucking dad?"

Not wanting to get angry but unable to remain calm, Max leaned in closer, voice low. She could feel the strain of keeping them here, the familiar dull ache beginning to form. "This is SET, Chloe. No matter what I do, something will happen... to you, and I'll lose you, and I can't. I won't let that happen."

"Set? Set by who? How do you know," Chloe shot back, tone accusing.

"Because Nona told me, okay," Max replied without thinking, clasping her hands over her mouth. 'Shit. Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit… what the hell have you done, Max?'

The blonde blinked a few times, taking in the new information. "What... do you mean?"

"The other watchers... they wanted to make sure, stop me from repeating the same mistakes one of my predecessors made," Max mumbled hesitantly, trying to gauge her friend's reaction. This was not how she wanted to tell Chloe this.

"So, what… they decided he had to die? That they had the RIGHT to take my father away from me?" she asked, stunned by the possibility.

Not wanting to meet the blonde's eyes, Max nervously bit her lip mumbling her answer. "Yes, but not Nona. She was against it. Because of her, they instead let me decide. Let me... choose. William or… you."

"So, it was YOUR choice?" she repeated, clearly not knowing how to take that.

"Chloe, please…" Max begged, hating the flickers of betrayal. Even if it was said in anger, it still hurt to hear the blonde blame her.

Finishing up his conversation, William made his way back into the kitchen seeing the two girls in their standoff. "Uh, I have to go pick up your mother from the store. You girls okay?"

"Fuck this! No way, not this time!" Chloe shouted angrily, storming past William into the living room.

"Chloe." He gasped at his daughter's outburst, following after her.

"Chloe!" the young brunette called after her, moving just in time to see Chloe hurl a set of keys into the yard before collapsing to her knees, sobbing.

Thoroughly confused, William moved outside to try and console her. "Chloe, what an earth...?"

He didn't get to finish, Max thrusting her hand out to stop the crying blonde from throwing the keys. 'Sorry, Chloe but I won't let you do this. I can't lose you.'

She watched the scene rewind, the keys returning to the table. William walked in reverse, retracing his steps. Somehow, something felt… off. It only took her a second to realize why. Chloe wasn't being affected by the rewind, still crumpled in front of the doorway, clutching her knees.

'This is so fucked up. How is this even possible? I tried to do something nice and I fucked it up… like I do with everything.' Turning her rewind into a freeze, Max looked between the man she considered a second father and her girlfriend. 'Even with this power, I can't change a thing.' Sighing, she knelt beside Chloe, putting an arm around her.

"It's not fair, Max. Why him?" she asked between sobs, seeming so small and vulnerable.

Max wanted more than anything to make her pain go away. "I don't know, Chloe. I wish I could change things..."

"I know. If you change it, I... die," the blonde whispered that last word, not wanting to think about the possibility.

'By now, I would've missed her funeral. Probably be in jail too and there's nothing I can...' Her gaze wandered over to William frozen in time, holding his Polaroid camera ready to take a shot. An idea formed, allowing time to resume with a bright flash.

"Uh, girls… where'd you go?" his puzzled voice was followed by footsteps. He entered the dining room, confused by the two girls huddled on the floor, both teary eyed.

"William. In about two minutes, the phone's going to ring. It's Joyce, wanting you to pick her up from the store from shopping," Max began to explain.

"You psychic now, Max?" he asked, amused by the prospect. "Where's that crystal ball of yours? I could use it to win on a scratch card or something."

"Max… what are you doing? You can't change this," Chloe reminded her, emotionally drained.

Turning to her girlfriend, eyes stinging with tears, Max took a shaky breath.

"I can't change what happens to William, but I can give you this, Chloe." She glanced over at William, apologetic. "You get to say goodbye… properly this time."

"What do you mean goodbye? You going...?" His sentence was cut off by the inevitable ring. Passing Max a questioning glance, he strolled over to answer it. The moment he heard Joyce's voice, his gaze fell on the brunette currently comforting his daughter. "Oh, hi honey. Really, I didn't realize we needed groceries. Sure, I'll come pick you up." With that, he hung up the phone, gobsmacked. "Max… how did you know that?"

'Under different circumstances, this would actually be fun being with William again…' Getting to her feet, the young brunette took a step towards him, bracing herself for the bitter truth. "William, what I'm about to say is going to be… very difficult to believe." Not waiting for a reply, she teleported behind him.

Chloe watched her father's eyes bulge, the sound of Max clearing her throat making him swivel around. He stumbled back, not wanting to believe his eyes. The blonde managed a watery chuckle. "Still think Warren's reaction was better."

The dull thud intensified, making her stagger. She grabbed hold of the phone stand, instinctively reaching up to wipe her lip, tasting iron. "Whoa, head rush…"

"MAX!" Chloe called out, instantly rushing to the brunette's side.

"I'm okay... I think," Max smiled weakly. In truth, her head was pounding already. Whatever was going on was taking its toll, more so if she pushed herself. "I'm not sure how long you have, Chloe."

"Will one of you two please tell me what's going on?!" William demanded, very concerned and bewildered by the strange behavior.

It wasn't fair to expect Chloe to explain all of this, she probably couldn't even if she wanted to, so Max took a deep breath and began, "This is going to be really difficult to believe, but I need you... Chloe needs you to believe what I'm about to say... I'm a time traveler. Right now, the Max you're talking to, is... eighteen. And Chloe, nineteen. We both traveled back to this point in time."

William gave her a searching look, clearly wondering whether this was some game he was expected to play along with. "Okay, so where's the winning lottery ticket?"

"See, I told you we should do something like that," Chloe muttered despite the gravity of the situation.

"You wanted me to rob a bank, Chloe," Max reminded her managing a smirk.

"Time traveling bank robbers, huh? I'd love to stay and play but I need to go pick Joyce up," he chuckled, making his way to the door.

"Dad, she's not lying..." Chloe called behind him, panic rising. "Max, do something!"

'Okay, he's not buying this, and I can't keep rewinding. I need him to see... oh, of course, why didn't I think of that before?' Without a word, Max disappeared from the blonde's side, re-appearing next to William and taking hold of his hand. Quickly, she searched through some of her memories of a much older and rugged Chloe.

William watched dumbfounded as the brunette showed him a future he wasn't a part of. A blue-haired punk Chloe almost running over an older Max with her truck in Blackwell's parking lot. His daughter's desire to find her angel, Rachel Amber. Swimming at Blackwell. The Dark Room discovery, Chloe crushed at finding Rachel dead. One supposed final farewell up in a cliff, a funeral that never happened. Then, another first meeting. The pair working together to rescue Kate. Chloe laughing at Warren's reaction to learning Max had genuine time travel powers. The former saving a pregnant woman amidst the super tornado. Max's family home with Joyce, David, Ryan, and Vanessa – when she told them about her rewind.

Feeling another large tug in the back of her mind, Max broke the connection. She stumbled backward, falling to the floor and landing on her ass as blood poured from her nose.

"What the hell... was that?" William finally managed, dumbfounded.

"Max!" Chloe exclaimed, seeing her girlfriend collapse. It only took the blonde a few seconds to roughly figure out what she had just done. She rushed forward, concerned about the brunette. Seeing her like this was… horrible.

Before she could make it, Max waved her off getting to her feet. "Now do you see, William? That's your daughter… your Chloe, five years from now."

"What did you show him, Max?" the blonde asked sheepishly.

"Everything... well, almost everything, in fast forward." When Chloe's eyes widened slightly, Max backtracked a little, feeling embarrassed. "No, I didn't show him THAT stuff."

"What stuff...?" Looking between them, seeing how guilty and anxious they looked, William put two and two together. "Oh, wait. Are you two…?"

"Umm... yeah. We are, dad," Chloe mumbled, turning a slight shade of pink.

Dabbing her nose with her sleeve, Max let out a chuckle earning a small scowl of the blonde. "Hey, I didn't think Chloe Price would be getting embarrassed about... you know, having a girlfriend."

"Oh, Joyce is gonna love this... guess she owes me twenty bucks," Willam chuckled seeing both girls turn slightly pink.

"Umm... Joyce does actually," Max confirmed hesitantly.

"And she didn't tell me... well, I'll be having words, then."

"Mom will know... in five years." Chloe's face fell, knowing what they had to tell him next. "Dad, I..."

Not wanting the blonde to tell her own dad he was destined to die, Max stepped in. "Like I said, William… I'm a time traveler and… I'm so sorry. So, so sorry, but I… urgh!" she was cut off as another dull thud caused her to cradle her head.

Rushing to her girlfriend's side, Chloe put her arm around her. "Max, you shouldn't push yourself."

"I'm okay, Chloe," she muttered in response. This was too important to worry about her own physical pain.

"You look like you're about to pass out again," the blonde insisted, a flicker of frustration in her tone.

Max stood firm, resolute. "I can do this, Chloe. For you, I can do anything."

"Maybe Chloe is right... Max, you can always try again," William reassured softly.

The brunette shook her head. "This feels like a one time deal… William, there's a reason you weren't included in what I showed you. And I'm so sorry. I did try to change things, but I couldn't… not without having something a million times worse in its place."

"Change what, Max...? Why wasn't I there, and who was the guy with the mustache?" the blond man asked, understandably confused.

Max nervously bit her lip, not wanting to meet the man's eyes, "That was David, Joyce's husband. William, today... today's the day you..." Unable to finish, the young brunette just began sobbing.

Chloe looked up at her father. He seemed to be processing everything Max had just shown and told him, or try to anyway.

"I'm sorry, Chloe. This isn't what I meant to do... I don't even know how…" The last part of her sentence was lost to a shuddering cry. "I don't want either of you to die…"

"I know..." the blonde whispered, trying to push back her own tears. "I just wish… things weren't so fucked up, that there was a choice where we could all survive."

William watched them for a few seconds, filling in the gaps. "Well, if that possibility doesn't exist, then I won't let you change it, Max. Today is the day I… die, isn't it?"

Max managed a weak nod. "Yeah, or… if you don't, Chloe will die a slow, painful death. Not great options…" Wiping her face, she gently encouraged the blonde to go to her father.

"Oh, my baby girl," Willaim sobbed as he closed the distance, embracing the teary teenager in his arms. "I'm so sorry I'm going to be leaving you... have left you."

Now given a second, well-needed chance to talk with her father, Chloe began, "I blamed you... blamed mom for so long, even though I knew you didn't choose it. It's not fucking fair."

"Hey, come on now. You always call me out for swearing. Charged me, too," he tried to joke, voice shaky. Letting out a sigh, he hugged his daughter close. "Life is… not fair, but I'm glad you still have Max. And you've become a strong woman, you always were. I'm very proud of you."

"Even after I dropped out of school," she replied, wincing pre-emptively.

"Even so. If I was still around…" pausing, he swallowed back tears, "…but it's between you and me, I'd take the bullet every time."

Wanting him to know that Chloe would be protected even if he wasn't around, Max firmly interjected. "William, just so you know, I feel the same between me and Chloe. Whatever it takes, I'll make sure she survives and thrives"

He turned to her with a watery smile. "I know you will, Max."

Realizing that she was running out of time, Chloe let everything tumble from her lips in quick succession. "Dad… I'll do better from now on, I promise. I've spent years fucking up, being rude to mom, wasting my potential and putting myself in danger, but…"

Pulling back, William put his hands on her shoulders and stared right into her watery blue eyes. "Chloe, listen to me. Whatever you do, you are always my little girl and I will always love you. I just wish I could be there for you. But, I can't so… just remember that I am here with you in spirit, in your mind and heart. You don't have to apologize or feel guilty. All I want is for you to be happy. And with Max around, I think that's more than possible."

Reaching her limit, Max felt guilt rush through her for cutting this short. "William, you… I need to rewind this to get the timings right, so… you won't know."

He nodded firmly, taking a deep breath. "Probably for the best. I might be Superdad but knowing I'm about to die is just a little scary, honestly."

Max stood, watching her girlfriend and father embrace as they said their heartfelt farewells. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted William's camera on the counter-top. 'Maybe there's one last thing I can do.' Without disturbing the moment, she retrieved the camera from the worktop.

"Max?" Chloe quizzed, watching the brunette make her way to the dining table.

Taking the camera, she turned it over in her hands. "I was thinking... one last picture. You know, capture the moment."

The blonde gave a watery grin. "I'd like that."

"If there ever was a moment to capture..." William agreed softly. "Shame we can't get all three of us in it."

"I think you'll be surprised." Managing a smile, Max set the camera down on the table. She lined up the shot as Chloe and William got into position, wiping their faces. "Ready?" Receiving a nod, she turned to the blonde. "Okay, Chloe. Whatever happens, don't move."

Another nod later, she double checked the shot and pressed the button. Putting the scene into a freeze, she swiftly made her way over to her second family, William frozen in place. Offering a smile to the blonde's questioning glance, Max took her place next to her girlfriend, interlocking her own fingers with the blonde's and leaned against her shoulder. She allowed time to resume, a bright flash filling the room as the camera spat out the image.

Blinking a few times, William took a moment to register that the brunette had joined them. "I don't think I'd ever get used to seeing that."

"She still takes me by surprise sometimes, and I've known for nearly a month," Chloe admitted, sounding a little annoyed.

"I need all the help I can get with you around," Max said weekly, leaning into the young blonde as another sharp pain writhed through her skull.

"Now, this is a keeper," William replied approvingly as he examined the picture. A watery grin tugged at his lips as his eyes flickered between the photo and the brunette clinging to his daughter, passing it to them.

"Definitely," Chloe confirmed quietly as she accepted the photo, realizing that their time was almost up.

"I'm gonna have to cheat the system a little to get it to stay," Max revealed, taking the picture off the blonde and placing it in her pocket.

"So, I, um, guess this is goodbye then," William managed through tears, throwing his arms around both girls.

"I'm gonna really miss you, dad," Chloe mumbled into his shoulder.

"Do me a favor, Chloe. Can you... tell your mother I'm sorry, and I love her?" To that question, Chloe just nodded as she hugged her father.

Just when it seemed like the hug would never end, William carefully peeled himself away from the two young girls, both of whom he considered family. "Look after my daughter, Max. And yourself. Chloe, same applies in reverse."

Earning a nod from both girls, he sighed and returned the nod, signaling that he was as ready as he'd ever be for this. Swallowing back her apprehension, the brunette took a step back leaving father and daughter hugging.

'I'm sorry, Chloe…' With that thought, Max rewound everything back to the start. William returned to his original position in the kitchen, ghosts of their past selves reversing until they too took up their place for the infamous picture. Chloe was left standing, tears running down her cheeks as she waited for the heartbreak all over again… losing her father again.

Turning the rewind into a freeze, Max rejoined her girlfriend, guilt flooding through her. More potently than ever before. "I'm sorry, Chloe... I wish I could give you more time."

"Max, you don't need to apologize. Instead, I should be thanking you. Who else in the history of everyone ever had another chance like this? Aside from you, of course," she added as an afterthought, composing herself. "C'mon, we still need this to play out before you pass out."

"I'll be okay..." she replied, not sure of that herself. She had no idea how long they had spent here, too long if her head was anything to go by… but this was something she couldn't have rushed.

"Don't even TRY and bullshit me, ya little hippie," the blonde cut in, taking the brunette's hand in her own as she dragged her over to the spot history dictated. "It's time to say goodbye. One last time."

Once the two girls had wiped their faces and assumed their pose, Max allowed time to resume. A painfully familiar bright flash was the catalyst of William's final few moments alive. This time would be the very last.

"I hope the flash didn't scare you, Max," William said cheerily, completely unaware of his fate as he inspected the picture. "This is a keeper."

Putting on a brave face, Chloe passed the brunette a weak grin before retracing her original actions and words. "Not until I see it first. You know the rules, Dad."

'Gotta hand it to her, she can really put up a front when she has to,' Max thought as she let Chloe have these last few moments alone with her dad.

Sighing deeply, she approached the fireplace. For a few seconds, she stared at the photo wishing that she could make it a permanent reality. Unfortunately, it was impossible without someone having to pay the price. Given the choice, Max would be that person. Then again, that wouldn't make Chloe happy either. Swallowing back tears, she slipped the photo behind the brickwork of the fireplace. It had remained unscathed by the storm set to sweep through Arcadia Bay in five years time.

All too soon, the ominous ring rang through the hallway. Joyce's phone call. When it did, Max was back at the blonde's side, fingers entwined as they tried desperately not to give way to the torrent of emotion.

"Excuse me, ladies, I have to go rescue yonder Queen at the sav-mart. She doth have many bags of delicious grub for us to feast upon," William announced after finishing the dreaded phone conversation.

"You are ridiculous," Chloe chuckled, sounding a little forced as she gripping the brunette's hand tighter.

"You'll be grateful for that someday," he replied as he went over to the table, searching the papers for his car keys. "Shit, where are my keys."

"That's a dollar for the swear jar," she shouted after him, her voice much flatter than the first time.

"You mean your college fund," William called back before muttering to himself. "Keys, please." He quickly located them hiding under his baseball cap on the coffee table. "A-ha! You can't hide from me forever!"

As William passed the kitchen he stopped, giving the girls a knowing smile. "And no Chloe and Max wine tasting session..."

"Dad," the young blonde protested, just as before.

Before he left, William turned back slightly. "Don't blow it because tonight your mother promised to make us her world-famous salmon surprise with chocolate cake for dessert. Max, you'll be here too, right?"

Unlike before, Max was the one to reply. "I'm never leaving her. I swear it."

"That makes all of us," he called back, just about to walk out of the door.

Unable to stand it, the blonde rushed her father hugging him fiercely. "I love you, dad," she mumbled, fighting back her tears.

"I love you, too. See you later," he replied breaking the hug he disappeared out the door.

With that, the scene faded to white. Blinking a few times, the bluenette found herself standing next to Max, who was sat at the dining table. In front of them was the photo album they had been looking at previously.

A pained groan coming her girlfriend brought her back to her senses. "Max... are you okay?"

"Yeah, just my head... and tired," the brunette muttered weakly, wiping the blood from her nose on the back of her wrist. "Knew I shoulda kept those tissues on me."

Expression softening, Chloe wanted to cry all over again for a different reason. "Max, I... I really don't deserve you."

"Hey, that's my line," Max grinned, feeling in her pocket for the photo them remembering what she did with it. "Um, Chloe, over there behind the brickwork," she continued pointing to the hiding spot of the new picture.

Following her girlfriend's direction, the bluenette made her way over to the fireplace to get the photo. It had yellowed slightly around the edges but otherwise looked fine. "I'm serious Max, you really are..."

A dull thud made her spin around to see the young time traveler with her head on the dining table, passed out. "And here we go again," she chuckled lightly. "Guess I can't have a moment of emotional vulnerability without you passing out on me."

Approaching the table again, she got an unconscious Max to her feet, moving her over to the couch so she could be comfortable. Kneeling beside her, passing the old wine stain a quick glance, she brushed hair from her face and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"You really are amazing, Max."

OK the how and why will be explained later, I just wanted to say a few things for this chapter.

This was by far the most difficult chapter I have ever written, Goes without saying it wouldn't be the way it is without Olivia's help and additions.

I mean, ask yourself, If you were in Max and Chloe's position, how would you handle it, Luckily for me, I have no experience in loss of close ones, not yet anyway. So this is very much a subject I have no experience to draw from.

Saying that I think it came out ok, Let us know in the comments.

As for whats left...That would be telling, but really not many more.

But worry not, there are at least two more fics in the works, one I'm hoping to have done and ready to go BEFORE BTS episode 2, So plenty to look forward too.

Till next time

Peace out