Notes:

Hey guy's

Sorry it's been a little longer than anticipated, But this chapter was turning into a bit of a whopper so its been cut, You get some now, and some next Sunday. (99.9% probability)

So Enjoy.

Chapter 34 - Undone

Nona stood staring in disbelief at the watcher standing before her, completely frozen. A pained sobbing groan drew her attention to Max, who was crumpled on the ground in a ball holding her head.

By all accounts, this was impossible … and yet...

"Max…" she uttered breathlessly, as confused as she was intrigued. "How? How are you doing that?"

At the sound of her name, Max managed to glance up despite the pain. She noticed the blonde girl staring gobsmacked at the motionless Watcher. It made no sense to her.

"I'm not doing…" she cut off, holding her head and letting out a groan as a searing pain shot through her skull.

Hearing the brunette's discomfort, Nona tore her gaze from the frozen watcher, rushing to Max's side. Not knowing what else to do, she put a comforting arm around the young girl. "You… shouldn't be able to do this."

If she wasn't so weak, Max might have snapped at her. Instead, she could only manage a weak, "I… don't know, but… something feels different, like…" Her eyes went wide, realizing the mental block was gone. "I can rewind again."

"Max…" Nona looked at her apologetically. Ever the bearer of bad news. "Even if you could , it wouldn't matter. Her fate is sealed. You know what happens if you try to change it…"

She didn't need to remind Max of the details. They had already been emblazoned in her mind for eternity, seared into her retinas.

"You mean someone else would…" She didn't want to finish that sentence. It was too painful.

At that moment, her mother's words jumped to the forefront of her mind. "Max, we want you to promise us something. Whatever happens, put you and Chloe first. "

"If... it ever comes down to a choice between you two and us, you pick the former. No question." Joyce had sounded so sincere, truly understanding the weight of her words.

She recalled her own quick protest, eased almost instantly by her mom. "We mean if you have no other choice." A much larger speech followed, but those first words were the ones that really mattered.

Again, Vanessa was backed up by Joyce. Caring tone, confident words. "We don't want you to make a choice like that on your own again, to feel guilty."

Choice… another memory surface. Not as pleasant.

"I… can't make this choice." Her voice was almost lost to the vicious wind, whipping its way to Arcadia Bay.

Chloe had given her such a somber stare, understanding yet determined. "No, Max. You're the only one who can."

The weight of choice burdened her shoulders. It always had. No matter what she did, it was wrong. So, fuck it. She might as well do what she wanted, actually try to get a happy ending for once.

Chloe would live. Somehow.

"NO!" she forced through gritted teeth, untangling herself from Nona and shakily making her way to the timeline ropes, muttering to herself like a madwoman as she examined it. "She's got to be in there somewhere."

Millions of tiny threads, way too many to count, ran parallel to her own. At one point or another, they joined and blended into a single color. All but one.

A silver strand.

Without thinking, she touched it, gasping as a million images flooded her mind. Colors blended and images distorted, much like when she pushed her power too far before.

"You mean... you're actually letting me choose this time?" A shocked voice echoed out from the blur with hopeful anticipation, one Max recognized instantly as Nona.

"The previous outcomes were not… desirable. It has been agreed to allow you more involvement," another voice boomed with frustration, a Watcher she assumed.

"And you won't be interfering?" Nona asked, skeptical with just a flicker of hope.

"There will be… tests, as usual," the Watcher replied, slow and deliberate.

"Understood." Max could almost hear Nona nod in understanding.

Without warning the scene faded away, another materializing. A small coastal town came into view. Houses, parks and streets passed beneath, all shrouded in darkness. Some were illuminated by street lamps or the occasional flickering light of a TV. A building appeared before her, one the young brunette had not seen in years.

Her old home in Arcadia.

The faint sound of crickets filled the night air. A familiar bedroom with unfamiliar decor. Through the open window gilded an elegant, glowing blue butterfly. It flitted across the room, landing weightlessly on the sleeping person hidden under covers.

"The problem the other Watchers have is they are too heavy-handed," Nona murmured to herself as a gentle blue glow passed from the butterfly, through the duvet to the person asleep underneath. "Time can't be handled with a heavy hand. What they need is… a female's touch."

With that, the butterfly took off circling the room. As it passed over the bed, its gentle blue glow illuminated a brown-haired young woman.

"I choose you, Max Caulfield. Let's show them what Timewalkers can really do."

Again the scene changed, a kitchen coming into view. A young man, beard nowhere near as bushy as it would be years later, sat at the breakfast bar, reading a paper. Nervously, a brunette woman entered the kitchen, clearly shaken as she nervously tapped a white stick in her hand.

"Um, Ryan honey…" she paused, waiting for the man to glance up at her before muttering, "I'm… uh, pregnant."

At that moment, he looked like a fish out of water, gasping for air. His words came out stuttered. "Wh-what? How?"

Vanessa Caulfield smiled, her voice full of playful teasing as she tried to control her own excitement. "Pretty sure it happens when… you know, the birds and the bees."

"Witty…" Ryan chuckled, his expression growing serious. "But the doctors, they said…"

"I know, but look," Vanessa replied her anticipation mounting as she bounced across the kitchen holding up the pregnancy test.

Positive.

Ryan stared at it for some time, unable to believe his own eyes. "I… This is fantastic, but…" his expression fell slightly, "they can be wrong."

"Not this time. This is the third one I've done and…" Vanessa placed a hand on her stomach. "I just know… I can't explain it."

"We're having a baby!" Ryan shouted excitedly, getting up from his stool to swing Vanessa around.

"We're having a baby!" she screeched in excitement.

"That you are, and a very special one at that," Nona's voice echoed softly as the scene changed again.

Pained screams, curses and words of encouragement echoed through the darkness. A hospital room materialized as the high pitched cry of a baby pierced the sudden silence.

"Congratulations, you have a healthy baby girl," a red-headed nurse announced, handing the small blood covered screaming baby to the new and thoroughly exhausted mother.

Vanessa accepted the child, bursting into tears of joy while her husband watched them with a broad grin.

"Hello Maxine," Vanessa breathed quietly as she cradled the infant. The baby quickly ceasing her screaming as she stared up at her mother.

"Welcome to the world, Max. A world that you're going to help protect, but for now, enjoy growing up," Nona's voice uttered happily.

Once more, the scene shifted. The Two Whales. A very young Max pressing her face up against the glass of one of the display cabinets looking hungrily at the sugar-coated goodies within.

Atop the counter was a small blue butterfly. It caught Joyce's attention before fluttering off. The young woman's gaze fell on the small child looking as though she was trying to absorb the display cabinets contents via osmosis.

Smiling to herself, Joyce grabbed one of the sugary treats from the cabinet and brought it over to one of the tables. A long-haired blonde sat there, for once not causing mischief… visibly, at least.

Blue eyes settled on the other girl, currently drooling over the cakes and cookies displayed near the counter. Curious.

Placing the plate down on the table, Joyce smiled. "You should go say hi, Chloe."

Chloe looked at her mother, frowning slightly. "I'd probably just scare her off…" she poked the offering, "like other people at school."

She didn't have a problem introducing herself to people, the opposite actually. It drew people in at first, but they soon got driven away by her moments of intensity.

Joyce shook her head, placing a hand on her hip. "You won't know until you try. Besides…" she glanced over at the brunette, "I've got a good feeling. And I'm sure she won't say no to sharing that." She pointed at the doughnut her daughter was poking.

Waiting for Joyce to leave - she didn't want it to look like she was doing it because her mom suggested it - Chloe shuffled out of her seat and approached Max.

Pushing her worries aside, she did her best to sound confident but not too overbearing. "Hi, I'm Chloe."

Max pulled her face off the display cabinet, looking up to the blonde in surprise. After a second, she pointed to herself, checking if the greeting was directed at her. Because of how quiet she could be, very few people willingly approached her. Even if they did, they eventually gave up because of her shyness.

"Well, I'm not speaking to the display cabinet," Chloe said with a smirk. "What's your name?"

"Uhh… my name… I'm Max," the young brunette replied hesitantly.

"Nice to meet you, Max. Um, would like some of this?" Chloe asked, showing her the doughnut.

Max's eyes fell hungrily on the sugary treat before hesitantly glancing over to where her parents were sat. When her mom smiled encouragingly, she turned to Chloe with an enthusiastic nod.

"Let's go sit over here." Chloe grabbed hold of her hand, dragging her to a table.

The distorted sound of their giggling faded away with the scene.

A dozen images flashed before her. Captured moments in time. Treasured memories a parent would take. Two young girls painting, playing pirates, snuggled up in bed watching movies, days out. Eventually, the image settled.

The day of William's funeral.

Chloe was curled up on her bed, sobbing her heart out. Helpless, Max did her best to comfort her crying friend. The tears were drowned out by a pained groan, blood pouring from Max's nose. With a loud thud, she collapsed onto the floor. Temporarily forgetting her pain, a panicked Chloe rushed to her friend's side.

"It's too soon. You HAVE to let me reverse this," Nona sobbed, voice quivering.

"What happened? We don't understand," a Watcher's voice echoed.

"She's tried to tap into her power. She's too young. LET me undo this!" Her pleas fell on deaf ears.

"His fate cannot be undone. It is sealed," the Watcher announced, emotionless.

Stunned by the lack of compromise, Nona refused to give up now. "If this doesn't get changed, I… we will LOSE her!"

Silence.

Time passed. Too much. Just when she was about to continue arguing, the Watcher spoke once more. "Very well. Two weeks. His fate, however, is sealed. The lesson must be learned."

"I'm sorry girls, but this is the only way. I SWEAR I will make it up to you," Nona cried as the scene changed into Chloe curled up on her bedroom floor, cradling a tape recorder as Max said her final farewell.

Other images flashed past, most of which the time traveler recognized. Phone in hand, number dialed, finger hovering over the call button… never pressed. Letters written but never sent. One day at school meeting two new friends, Fernando and Kristen. An acceptance letter from Blackwell received and opened.

That one fated meeting in a school bathroom. Awakened, power unlocked. A long-awaited reunion swiftly followed by an investigation. A failure to save a friend, Night time adventures, swimming pools and one taken dare. Painful lessons learned and dark secrets revealed. One Chosen lost.

A twisted turn, a fight for life… a heartbreaking choice and painful farewell.

Once more, everything shifted. Max curled up in bed, tossing and turning while mumbling in her sleep.

"She has failed," the Watcher's voice echoed, devoid of any emotion. Empty.

"I TOLD you to push the test back," Nona spat angrily. "It was too much, what with Jefferson and what happened to Rachel. She felt backed into a corner."

"Another shall be chosen." A cold statement, no compromise.

"Over my dead body," she growled back.

"That is not a desirable outcome. The decision has been made," the words of the watcher faded to silence.

Now, the scene of Max passed out on a clifftop bench, in the dead of night materialized. Lacking color and life. Static.

"How could I be so stupid?" Nona muttered, an intense blend of anger and sadness. "I'm sorry, Max. It's been so long I couldn't see. Of course you love her." A few moments of silence ticked over before the blonde Watcher spoke again. "Okay girl, you NEED to fix this. I can't do it for you but… Maybe a small nudge is in order..."

Again the scene changed, an unfamiliar room appeared.

A young girl sat at a cheap plastic table, happily drawing. Shelves lined the walls of the room, filled with books, CDs, trinkets and a small snow globe. Flashes of blue flickered as a butterfly came to rest on the glass dome. The girl's drawings were pushed off the table by the warm breeze seeping through an open window. Sighing, she got up and stood on a stool to close it. Once on solid ground, she spotted the butterfly.

"Wow, you're pretty. But you should be outside, little flutterfly," she muttered softly. Taking a large glass, she stood on the stool again ready to place it over the winged creature. "I'll try not to hurt your wings cutie, but you have to stay still… woah!"

The girl gasped as she slipped, instinctively reaching out for the shelf for support. Everything came crashing to the floor accompanied by the sound of broken glass. In the aftermath, she sat up and dusted herself off. Only then did she see the remains of the snow globe, shattered. Tears streamed from her eyes, an uncontrolled sob.

"Sam. What's wrong?" An older boy - in his early teens Max would guess - rushed into the room, eyes widening at the mess. "I heard a crash."

"My snow globe," Sam wept, pointing to the broken ornament.

His expression softened, relief flooding his body as he checked the young girl over, unable to find any serious injuries. "Are you hurt?"

She shook her head, sniffling. "N-no, but…" Her eyes fell on the shattered snow globe, new tears welling up.

"Hey hey, it's okay. It's only a snow globe. We can get you another one," the young boy offered softly, hugging her tight.

"B-but… I liked that one. You could see the snowflakes floating around..." Sam mumbled, gingerly picking up a small plastic snowflake from the cream carpet.

She held it up for a moment, letting it go with a disgruntled sigh as they both watched it gracelessly hit the floor.

"Ya know, if you wanna see snowflakes floating about that's not really an issue." He nudged her, motioning towards the window.

Frowning, the young girl looked up at the window gasping as she spotted several small snowflakes falling lazily through the air.

"James!" she exclaimed, wincing at the unintentional loudness, then whispered, "Momma said you shouldn't do that."

"What's mom gonna do, ground me?" James smirked.

"Probably. I don't want you to get into trouble," Sam replied, worry clear in her voice.

"Well, if it cheers up my sister, then it's worth it," he grinned, helping the younger girl to her feet, ready to head out into the snow.

"Pretty sure you're gonna get away with this one, James. Thank you." Nona's voice resounded as Sam rushed outside, excitedly pulling her brother along.

It was replaced soon enough, flickering and fleeting memories. Static.

Max on her knees, broken by despair. One definite spark of hope, determination. A close call with a truck. Bearing all after an exhausting run. The path rediscovered, a favor asked. Reunited once more, an everyday hero born. Playing catch up, conversations repeated. Messages in time. A near miss and family reunited. History re-written, the one that got away. Shadows of the past, powers evolving. Memories shared in show and tell.

Saving a friend, an angel in her own right… a chosen. Demons faced, a dark omen in the midst of day. Eclipse. The timer started. Friends recruited, a house party thrown. Break-ins repeated, deja vu. A barrier broken, twin moonlit beach, the calm before the storm. Rain and wind lashing violently. Courageous efforts, close calls and unsung heroes.

The final secret revealed, a painful choice offered. Bad timing.

Watchers revealed, a title given. Timewalkers introduced. Another family reunion. The situation explained, promises made. Waters tested with a shotgun. Love reciprocated. Pranks played and groundwork set. An old faithful companion reborn, the return trip planned. Damage assessed, forgotten memories resurfacing.

Hidden dangers exposed, a waking nightmare. A curious mind, abuses of power. Conversations till the early hours of the morning, worst kept secrets. Bargains struck, the price of silence. A tearful goodbye to William. Unexpected field trips, a chosen revealed. Insecurities overcome, butterflies banished. A friendship evolved.

Stumbling backward, Max collapsed to the floor with a gasp. Nona rushed to her side, comforting the brunette.

"Max."

"My whole life..." Max muttered weakly, looking up at the red-eyed blonde. "You've been there. Always helping."

"Of course I have," Nona sniffed, hugging her tighter. "How could I not?"

Despite her warmth, Max could feel things getting colder. It was getting so difficult to concentrate now. Her gaze fell upon the rope-like structure, her own line now all but faded down to what she assumed was the present.

A silvery strand running alongside her own was slowly veering away from her own line, towards another cluster of lines.

The brunette frowned. "Nona… how did I see? I can't see anyone's line but my own."

Exhaling deeply to calm her nerves, Nona took Max's hand. "You have the blood of a Timewalker, Max." She rubbed her thumb along the young girl's palm. "My blood. You're drawn to it."

"Oh..."

Blue eyes stared at the countless colored strands, an idea beginning to form. With shaky determination, she got to her feet.

"Max?"

"As long as they're frozen, they can't see what I do, right?" Max asked, passing a side glance towards the immobilized Watcher.

"I… don't know," Nona admitted sheepishly. "This has never happened before but…" she paused, glancing between the frozen Watcher and Max. "Even if they don't, the second they unfreeze they will know." Looking away, she angrily brushed a tear off her cheek, sighing. "Just like me, they've been watching you your whole life."

"I know. There has to be a- arrrrgh!" Cut off by a searing pain shooting through her skull, Max fell to her knees and cradled her head.

Out of the corner of her eye, Nona saw the Watcher slowly begin to move again. Each twitch was accompanied by another pained groan from the brunette.

"No!" Max grunted, slamming her fist on the ground. A dull thud resounded as the Watcher ceased its attempt. "I. Am. Not. DONE!"

Sorry for any formatting error's but Fanfic doesnt play nice with Google Doc's

Few things to peice together there.

Till next weekend.

Peace out