Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel or any characters featured in either of the seasons.
With Ben In Between
In weeks after that night at Crash, Alec and Max got to know each other. Alec falling for Max more and more, while Max continued to convince her self that Alec was the enemy, but at the same time believe that Alec was Ben. Cindy never mentioned a word that she said that night to Max either, but Max knew what she thought, but never addressed it.
As time continued to pass, Max began to also see that Alec was very much a different person than Ben. Alec was an outgoing, goofy rogue with a love for adventure. Ben on the other hand had been a quiet, serious writer with a love for photography. That had what made Max fall for Ben in the beginning, like her, he liked to be alone at times and didn't always need to be around other people. It had been the first time she had met someone like that. The stories that he would write would make her fall harder for him. It wasn't until they had been dating for almost a year that he told her about his family
Flash Back
"Ben, why don't you ever talk about your family?" Max asked as she finished preparing their dinner. Ben sat on the counter next her munching on some carrots.
"Not much to tell," he shrugged his shoulders finishing the carrot. Leaving the stove she stood in front of him and leaned into him. Ben wrapped his arms around her waist and looked her with a little smile.
"Come-on there has to be something there," Max coaxed lightly kissing him. She felt Ben smile, he knew her game and he couldn't resist it.
"I'll tell you a story later." Satisfied she pecked him on the mouth once more before moving back to finish their food. Ben just smiled, only shed could do that to him.
Sure enough, later that night when they were laying in their bed, Ben told her about his family.
"My dad and mom were the militaries strongest and brightest, and children the strongest and the brightest. Dad was considered the military prodigy before he was 18, mom was the top weapon designer. They had my twin Alec and me, and we were raised in the military world."
"What branch?" Max asked burrowing her head further into his shoulder, enjoying the feeling of him wrap his arm around her shoulder more.
"Manticore. It's the best of the best put together to create better or the best. My grandparents were part of the starting of it. It's separate from the Army and Marines and such. But they collaborate when times call for it. Growing up Alec and I were being raised to join the forces, be the next of generation. I didn't want to, I preferred everything but the military.."
"And Alec?"
"Aside that differences, we were always close. Alec? He was born and bred for it. Best of class, the fastest, and the charmer for the bored rich who need to put their money somewhere they can brag about." Ben just stared at their bedroom wall as he explained his family history to her while Max watched his facial expressions. "When I decided to leave the military base, my parents irate. They tried to convince me I was wrong, Alec didn't say anything. When I left, he didn't do anything then either." Max hugged him, feeling the betrayal radiating off him.
"I'm sorry," she whispered after a few moments of silence. She felt Ben lean down and kiss the top of her head and linger there for a few moments.
"You didn't do anything but put up with me," he whispered to her. Looking up, to him, Max felt her heart swell when she saw he was looking at her with that look that was reserved for just her.
Max felt a tear make it's way down her cheek, she missed those moments. Those moments when they would lay in bed or on the couch and just be in each others company. Taking in a deep breath Max willed the rest of the tears that threatened to fall, to disappear. Ben wouldn't want her crying. Letting out all those emotions, she stood up and finished getting ready to meet Alec at Crash.
Thinking about the difference of the two, she felt something in her heart melt again, tiny but it was noticeable. It was the feeling again, Max furrowed her brow, what was that.