Epilogue
"These packages don't deliver themselves, now bip, bip bip!" Normal yelled at Max and OC, who were taking their time to put things away in their lockers.
"You know, I never thought I'd see the day where I'm actually glad to be back," Max said.
"Boo, after all that's happened, it don't hurt to have a bit o' Normal here an there."
Max grinned at her pun. "It sure doesn't."
"Hey," Alec interrupted. "Max, I saw this nice shiny statue the other day. Could probably fence it for fifty grand. You in?"
Original Cindy rolled her eyes. "Is that what you two call a date?"
"What's wrong with getting a little cash?" Max asked amused.
"Well, you two lovebirds are free to do whateva you want. Just don't let Original Cindy hearin' 'bout it. Original Cindy don't want no cops lookin' for her when you get caught."
"I'll pick you up at nine then?" Alec asked.
Max smiled, "It's a date."
"Great," Alec grinned. "I'll see you then." Alec then left with his packages.
"So how long has it been now that you two been together? A month?"
"Three weeks," Max corrected.
"Sure don't seem like it. Then again, you two known each otha since Manticore."
Max shrugged. "Well, I'll catch ya later at Crash? I'm going to head out now. Need to stop by and pick up my meds."
"Alright boo. Catch ya lata."
Max headed out on her bicycle, thinking about all that had happened.
Sometimes it seems like it happened to someone else. Like maybe it was a story I heard. Even though I know that it was me who saved these people, my strange no junk DNA that provided the cure. It was a year ago Logan and Joshua died, but so did White and many more Familiars. It was a year ago that the transgenics finally defeated the Famliars, saving mankind from their domination. And now, transgenics are looked upon as heroes of sorts by some. Still loathed by a select few, but most importantly, accepted by the general population. Many things have changed, but friends do not. But things between friends can change...
Eight weeks ago...
"What are you doing up here?" Max asked, not turning away from the view the Space Needle provided.
"Just thought I might find you up here."
"I come here to be alone, Alec."
"You kicking me out?" Alec asked with a pout.
Max was silent, so Alec took a seat beside her.
"Mind telling me what's on your mind?" Alec asked.
"The usual."
"Max, the past is the past. You've got to let go."
Max sighed before replying, "I know Alec. It's just hard."
Alec gently placed an arm around Max's shoulder, pulling her closer to him. "I know," he reassured. "That's the hard thing about life. Life goes on, even when the people around you don't."
A normal person wouldn't notice the silent tears Max had shed at those words. A normal person wouldn't notice the uneven breathing from her cries. But Alec was not normal, and so he just held her in his arms, hoping it would comfort her and end those tears. It was not the first time he had found her here, but it was the first time she had allowed herself any emotional release in his presence.
And like all the times before, Alec knew exactly when Max was ready to leave, and so they left together and headed to Crash.
Four weeks ago...
"It's a nice view," Alec greeted as he set foot on the space needle.
"Yeah, it is."
"I haven't seen you back here in a while." He was now standing next to her.
"You following me now, Alec?"
"Just making sure you're ok," Alec replied casually.
"I'm fine."
"So what brings you up here today?"
"Life."
Alec merely nodded. "You're not still – "
"No, I'm not still moping," Max replied, irritated.
"Ok. Do you want me to leave?"
Max was silent, so he turned away this time, feeling as if he were intruding.
But before he was able to leave, Max called him back, "No...please, stay with me."
Alec smiled and returned to her side. The two remained their the whole night, staring into the city scene below them in silence, lost in their own thoughts.
Three weeks ago...
Max crept silently down the halls, looking for the statue. At the other end of the building, Alec slid down through a rope.
Max had just disarmed the security system and was about to remove the statue when Alec arrived on the scene.
"Didn't think I'd be finding you here Max," Alec whispered.
"This statue's mine, Alec. You'd better leave."
"Aww, come on Max. Can't we split it? I got in here fair and square."
"I disabled the security system first."
"Yeah, I noticed," he muttered to himself. "But I've got the tools to keep the pressure switch from setting off the alarm."
"What makes you think I don't?"
He held up her tools and grinned. "Come on, split it?"
Max scowled as she tried to snatch her tools back. Alec easily dodged her grasp. "Easy Max. You don't want us to break something now."
"This is NOT the time for games Alec," she whispered harshly as she tried yet again to get her tools back from Alec, but as Alec dodged, he landed right on an invisible laser, setting off the alarm.
"Great, look what you did Alec!" Max cried furiously as they blurred towards Alec's entrance and quickly clambered back onto the roof before the doors sealed them in tight.
"Aww, come on Max. There's always tomorrow."
"Give me back my tools, Alec."
"Come and get them," he grinned.
Max blurred and attempted to kick them out of his hands, but Alec blocked her kick and threw the tools to his other hand.
Max reached for them yet again but he just tossed them to his other hand. With each attempt, Max backed him unknowingly further and further into a corner, until there was no where else to run.
"Give 'em up now," Max demanded. "Or you'll be sorry."
"We can talk about this, can't we?"
"Alec, give them back now!" she yelled as she reached for them yet again.
In that split second, Alec sidestepped, causing them to switch positions. Now Max was the one backed into the corner.
"Alec! I don't have all night for this!"
Alec just gazed into her eyes, ignoring her cries. Max stopped yelling shortly after she realized Alec was just staring at her. As her eyes met his, the two were mesmerized by each other. Max didn't remember who initiated it, but she did remember kissing him back with a passion she had never felt before.
The tools were forgotten as they broke off the kiss and enveloped one another in another kiss. Their hearts were racing by the time their second kiss broke off.
"Max?" Alec asked with a pleading look in his eyes.
Max knew exactly what he was asking for, and revealed a feral grin. "We're wasting time here. Your place in five minutes."
Alec grinned. The two found their motorcycles and sped off into the night.
The following morning, Max awoke first – the thoughts of what happened flooded back to her...and she smiled. She hadn't been in heat, and yet she still did it. She only wondered why she didn't realize it sooner – who she had been looking for was right there in front of her. Maybe Manticore wasn't wrong to pair them up.
"Alec?" she asked quietly, wondering if he was awake.
"Hmm?"
"I guess this changes things between us, huh?"
Alec kissed her gently on the head. "Yeah, I guess this does. Does this mean you won't hit me anymore?"
"As if," she scoffed, punching him in the shoulder.
Alec sighed and shook his head disappointedly while Max got up to get dressed. Alec followed shortly after.
"Don't expect me to be all sweet and caring now, especially in front of Normal," Max stated.
"You do and we're through," Alec replied in agreement.
The two shared a small kiss before heading off to Jam Pony that morning. It was a week later before Original Cindy and Sketchy found out the two of them were together, and a week after that that Normal noticed the two together. Normal couldn't believe his eyes, and his expression was unforgettable, but as soon as he came to his senses, he sent them on runs in separate directions, claiming he didn't want them getting distracted.
As Max arrived at the address, she quickly delivered the package and then headed to pick up some more Tryptophan. Things were different now, but at least she had someone to share it with.
On the other side of town, Alec smiled as he thought back to all the times he and Max shared. He always feared Max would reject him like she did that first day he met her when he walked into her cell. But she didn't, and he was happier than he had ever been in his life. He would not mess things up this time, especially now that Manticore had no more say in his life.
A/N: Well, that's it. This is probably one of the first 'love' pieces I've ever written, so I hope it's not too crummy. I hope you enjoyed it and thanks for reading this whole piece. Please review - Come on, it's the last chapter! At least let me know what you thought of it!!! Good, bad? What?!
Oh and I have to advertise for my other MA fic here again before I forget...Please check out The Reins of Leadership: I just started it - it's an AU starting after AJBAC when Max was left back in Manticore. Max is made a CO to prevent her from escaping. Will she still leave when people depend on her? Check it out! I haven't posted too many chapters so it's not too hard to catch up...
Alright, I'm going to stop talking. Please push the button and submit a review! It'll do you good...