Chloe wakes up as Max gently shakes her.

'You didn't wake up on the alarm'

'Fuck, am I late?' she sits up.

'No' the brunette smiles handing over a mug of coffee 'I woke earlier and actually turned it off. You'll be fine.'

'I hate you' she sips some coffee.

'You're nervous.'

'I have to prove today.'

'Guess you're not hungry.'

'Couldn't swallow a bite.'

'You'll be fine' she gently kisses her forehead 'You're talented and I believe in you'

'Please, don't put it this way. I feel like under pressure.'

'Sorry. I'll deliver some lunch later, how's that sound?'

'Not bad. Will you on the menu?'

'Well, I may be the dessert after dinner' she smirks.

'Sounds great' she kisses the photographer and drinks the rest of her coffee 'I just can't imagine what Matt idea about this test is'

'Relax now. You'll be fine, Chloe. You didn't forget that you have to drop me off at Powell's, right? I'm meeting Kate there and don't wanna be late'

'You don't wanna be late?' she laughs as she softly kisses her 'What about me? Can I be late?'

'I hate you when you're like this. Stop scoffing and get dressed!'

'In the bossy mood again?' she stands up, walking to the wardrobe.

'I'm just looking out for you.'

'How nice of you' she laughs as she puts on her pants 'You think I have to be taken care of?'

'No. I just want you to be fine. I can't lose you.'

'You won't.'

'I'm just… trying to help'

'I know' she smiles as she puts on a tank top and walk to Max 'Wasn't a complaint' she kisses her softly 'But you know, I'm not a kid who should be taken care of'

'Well, you're pretty childish sometimes' she laughs 'But I have to admit that you actually grew during the past year.'

'Thanks to you' she kisses her cheek.

'Can we go?'

'Already?' she kisses her softly.

'I knew it…'

'What?' she kisses her again.

'That we would end up like this' she wraps her arms around the punk's neck.

'But I can't resist. I just… can't help it. I love you' she mumbles.

'It's okay' she smiles 'I love you, too' she kisses the blunette then their forehead meet.

'Shall we go?'

'We truly should'

'I know' she sighs.

'Are you nervous?'

'Hella'

'You'll be fine. I'll drop by, okay, Chlo?'

'Sure. Come on' she kisses her forehead 'I'm dropping you off at Powell's'

Chloe's getting more and more nervous. She looks at Max as she parks at Powell's.

'Baby, you'll be fine!' Max smiles.

'I… know'

'What would you get for lunch?'

'You.'

'Chloe!'

'Uhmm… A sandwich will do.'

'Okay.'

'Say Kate "Hi" in my name, will you? And also tell her she can drop in anytime she wanna get rad!' she grins.

'Very funny. For luck' she kisses her long and softly 'I'll be there soon, okay?'

'Okay' she smiles as she watches the brunette walking in. After a sigh she continues her way to the parlor. She grabs her tattoo pistol and ink and walks in.

'Chloe Price is on time!' Matt smiles as she sees the blunette 'Funny, Darren just said the opposite.'

'Darren said that? Like he would be any better' she laughs.

'Now, sit down, Chloe. Remember my full name?'

'Matthew Morgan'

'Cool. Where do you think my ancestors from?'

'Morgan…' she mumbles 'Definitely from overseas. It could be Welsh or… Celtic, maybe?'

'Well, aren't you smart? I'm actually Celtic. What do you know about the Celtic, Chloe?'

'Uhm, like… almost nothing. Maybe what everybody else. They were warriors with cool hairdos and tattoos.'

'Aren't you cute, kid?' he laughs.

'And they were kinda spiritual, right?' she scratches her neck.

'Okay, hey, I didn't mean to stress you out, calm down, Chloe. The main thing is that, I want a Celtic tattoo. The people who worked here all got one on me.'

'Do you still have space for mine?' she smiles nervously.

'Oh no, you don't get it. They can't even tattoo me if I don't like the design. If someone fucks the actual tattoo up, they have to pay for the removal.'

'You're not chickenshit, Matt…' she sighs, brushing off her face.

'Didn't mean to scare you. But you have to prove, okay?'

'Sure' the punk speaks again after a moment of silence 'May I see your tattoos?'

'Sure' the man takes off his shirt, then he smiles 'You see, I have one on my left ankle too, and a Celtic cross on my thigh'

'Okay, well… We talked about spirituality' Chloe hits a serious voice.

'Yeah'

'Do you have a spirit animal?'

'That's the spirit! Pun intended!' he grins and winks 'Yeah, I actually have one. Or let's see. Celtics have more spiritual signs based on astrology. So, my birthday is in late March. We have spiritual trees, oghams, animals, gems and colors.'

'Mhm… Matt… What is an ogham?'

'It's from the Celtic alphabet.'

'I think I'm gonna pass on that. I'm thinking about your spirit animal in the spiritual color. How's that sound?'

'Original and unique.'

'Tell me about your spiritual things'

'You're actually interested?' his eyes widen.

'Yeah. I find it very interesting.'

'Nobody did before. Okay, Chloe. My ogham looks like this' he draws it fast 'My tree is alder and my gemstone is ruby. The color is red and my spirit animal is bear.'

'A red bear…' she thinks for a moment 'Would it be okay? It would be hella great as a full-back tattoo, but… well, out of space, what about your shoulder-blade?'

'Hmm… Sounds good. Draw something. I'll be back. Going out for a coffee. Want some?'

'Aha'

The blunette drags a piece of paper, thinking for a moment, searching for a circle shaped Celtic symbol. Soon enough she places the head of a bear into the circle. Matt arrives as she puts the pencil down.

'Done already?'

'I hope so' she sighs, sipping her coffee 'What do you think?'

'It actually looks good, Chloe.'

'Thanks'

'Okay, get the stencil! I love it!'

'Are you serious?' her jaw drops in surprise.

'Here's the deal: even if you failed as a tattooist I would hire you as a graphic artist. Darren was right about you. Deal?'

'Deal' she nods as she grabs the stencil.

Now she's nervous as she looks at Matt's back. She carefully places the stencil. After the man approves, she takes her tattoo pistol and starts with the outlines.

'Chloe, have you actually started it or just playing with that pistol?'

'I'm doing it. Can you feel nothing?'

'Has nobody told you before? I'm actually surprised I feel almost nothing. I should. Aha, there. I feel as it hits the bone. But no pain.'

'Sometimes they told me it wasn't painful at all. I love working fast and making sure about the comfort of the customers.'

'Darren was all over you when he called me. How talented you are. He said you became good friends.'

'We actually did' she smiles 'He has always appreciated my work.'

'I guess I'm about to understand why. Well, you know, now that you're hired at least you don't have to stress about clothes. You design it, you take it. We'll see how much we can sell.'

'So you want me to design clothes.'

'You draw well. I can work on them on the computer if you're not familiar with that. Or I may teach you how to deal with a graphic tablet'

'Sounds great' she smiles 'Ready for coloring?'

'Yeah'

They talk about tattoos, designs, clothes, music and Darren. The punk would've never thought how much she means to the man. She sighs as she finishes the bear tattoo. She takes the rubber gloves off nervously as she waits for Matt's critique. The man looks into Chloe's eyes seriously. The blunette's not short, but the man is taller than her and now as he looks down on her she finds him a little bit scary.

'Well, Chloe Price… Great work!' he grins 'Welcome aboard! Now, let me introduce you to the rest of the crew!'

'Are you serious?'

'What? Aren't you happy?'

'I'm… happy… Fuck, I thought I wouldn't be good enough' she sighs as she brushes off her face.

'Well,' he wraps his arm around her and starts the way to introduce her 'you were more than good enough, Chloe.' he smiles.

After the introduction they decide to thrash a little. After an hour the blunette sits on the edge of the half pipe, tired but satisfied. The man brushes her face playfully.

'Don't do it, man! You're not my father!' she laughs.

'But I could be!'

'Really?'

'No!' he laughs then nods towards the building 'Guess you have a visitor.'

'Max!' she runs towards her girlfriend, hugging and picking her up.

'Uhm, hey. You okay?'

'More than okay' she kisses her on the lips, smiling.

'So would that mean you're hired?'

'I'm so hired! Hey Matt, would you show your brand new tattoo?'

The man walks up to them, takes his T-shirt off smiling.

'It's amazing' Max whispers.

'Huh? You said something? I didn't hear' Chloe grins.

'It's amazing!'

'Thanks, Max.'

'I brought you some lunch.'

'Great, I'm hella starving!' she kisses her on the cheek.

'Go on. I'll let you know if something's up, Chloe!' Matt winks.

Chloe grabbing Max hand heads to the counter. She hops on the counter, smiling.

'I know it's not that romantic, but well… I'll think about something for tonight, okay?'

'It's fine' she smiles softly 'You'll be rewarded for your success' she gently kisses her cheek'

'You know' she bites on her sandwich 'I'm hella lucky. I can work here, and listen, I can even design clothes from now on. I mean patterns. Whatever! And of course…' she smiles 'I have you.'

'Aren't you the luckiest bastard on Earth?' she smiles as their cheeks softly meet.

'In the universe' she whispers and kisses her tenderly.

'I actually have a request' she whispers.

'Mhm' she's chewing 'What?'

'I wanna be your first customer.'

'Tattoo?'

'No, not yet. I think I'm not ready for that. But another piercing.'

'Okay. Where?'

'Ear.'

'Okay' she jumps off of the counter 'I'm thinking of a helix, but… check out that diagram. I'll ask Matt about this.' she kisses her on the cheek but before she could take more than a step, Max grabs her hand.

'I love it.'

'What?'

'You're so serious about it. You have a passion for your work'

'And for you' she kisses her neck grinning then she's off to find Matt.

The man nods for the question smiling, but he has a criteria: he will watch the progress. The blunette accepts this then she walks back to Max.

'So, what did you choose?'

'You were right. Helix.'

'Mhm. I'm gonna show you some. Then we'll set its place. Okay?'

'Okay.'

In less than half an hour Max Caulfield got her second piercing. Then Matt lets them go, but he warns the punk to bring her reference work tomorrow as he wants to add them to the webpage of the parlor.

Getting back to the apartment Chloe kisses Max softly. The brunette smiles.

'What?' the blunette smiles.

'You look so happy. So calm'

'I am.' she kisses her neck 'I have you. I have a job. I need nothing else now.'

'I love you.'

'I love you, too' their foreheads meet then Chloe's hand slips under Max's T-shirt, now tenderly caressing her back 'I love you…' she whispers.