Disclaimer: See first page

Notes: Sorry for the long wait, I've just been really busy and then I couldn't figure out exactly what to do… Anyways, I hope you enjoy.

Chance32: Well we'll see what happens. I'll give you a hint though – I happen to be a BIG M/A shipper. However, I do tend to let the stories write themselves so…we'll see how it goes. Miguel will unfortunately cause some problems for our favourite pair, but with luck it'll all turn out. Thank you and I hope you aren't too mad at me for the wait.

Mystic Fayth: I'll keep it in mind, and confused is good. It means I'm writing this story right.  Thanks for reviewing!

SpiritKez: I'm torn between those thoughts myself. Hopefully I'll manage to reach a compromise. Thanks for the review!

Calistra: You seem pretty certain. Why? Thanks for the review!

Julie: Thank you. I'm so sorry for the wait! Don't be too mad at me?

Thanks you very much, and sorry for the wait: Transgenic-girl, pand, Dy, Chiisaibunnie, AngelKougaeri, Alana84, a7xvampire, SakuraAkira365, mzbhve.

X-X-X-X-X

"Cinderella walked upon broken glass
Sleeping Beauty let a whole lifetime pass
Love is blood and sweat and tears
Love means facing all your fears."

Amy Sky

X-X-X-X-X

Max was supposed to be going over several requests for equipment upgrades, repairs, and –thankfully- for once she had no diplomatic papers to go over. That was a relief however as instead the fiery brunette was miles away from the papers in front of her, lost in her own thoughts. She was so lost that she didn't even hear the man before her calling her name.

"Max? Max?" finally the dark haired transgenic snapped his fingers sharply near her ear. Under most circumstances it wasn't the brightest thing to do to a transgenic (let alone the leader of terminal city), and this time was no exception. No sooner had he finished snapping his fingers than he was face down on the floor with a knee in his back and his shoulder wrenched back. His other arm was trapped somewhere in an uncomfortable position between his body and the floor.

It took a few seconds for Max to recognize the Latino transgenic she had incapacitated, but when she did she immediately got off him. "I'm so sorry, Miguel, are you okay?" The abruptly she switched gears, "Hells fire! You shouldn't do that to people unless you're looking to get hurt!"

"Yeah," Miguel began sheepishly, fighting the impulse to touch the rapidly darkening area around his cheekbone – a souvenir of when he hit the ground. "I realize that. I am now more personally involved with the floor in your office than I ever wanted to be."

"Yeah, well…" Max resisted the urge to wince and avert her eyes. It was his fault after all!

"Anyways, I came here to ask you if you'd like to have dinner with me tomorrow night?" His voice turned it into a question at then end although he tried to make it sound casual.

Max's mind flashed back to the orchid in her room. Would he tell her tomorrow that the phoenix was who he was? "I'd love to. Seven sound good?"

"It sounds great; I'll pick you up at your place."

"Great."

Miguel gave her a goofy grin. "I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Tomorrow" Max confirmed with a smile, before he walked out of her office. Her thoughts returned persistently to the orchid on her bed, Miguel, and Alec before she forced it away from those distracting items and back to work. Whoever thought leadership would require so much paperwork?

X-X-X

Early next morning she took a walk around the gardens they were beginning in T.C. She did this most mornings as she was often up early as she didn't need that much sleep. Sometimes Alec joined her. "Max!" And apparently today was one of those days.

He jogged up to her, as she waited where she was for him to catch up. "Hey." He said when he caught up to her.

"Hey yourself," she smiled at him. He looked as heartbreakingly gorgeous as usual, with the early morning sun lighting the strands of his hair to make them seem an almost angelic gold. His hazel-green eyes sparkled at her, as he licked his slightly dry yet tantalizing lips before trying to speak again. Max shook her head slightly in an effort to dislodge the voice at the back of her head which reminded her that she was not over him, that she still loved him and always would.

"What's up?"

"Nothing much. Just wanted to check out the vegetable gardens today and see how they're faring. Want to join me?" she cordially invited.

Alec eagerly accepted "Sure."

They walked along in silence for quite a while. They had gardens with ornamental plants, but they also had fruit and vegetable gardens and were walking on remodelling a building to house indoor gardens. They still got their meat and cheese from outside, as well as some exotic foods but they were working steadily towards becoming completely self-sufficient. Alec's voice broke into her thoughts.

"Hey, Max?" he asked casually

"Yeah?"

"You want to go out tonight. A few of us our heading over to check out this new bar, you interested?"

Max felt trapped. Shit, Damn and Blast! Why, tonight of all nights, why! In an effort to ignore that annoying voice at the back of her head that asked why, if she had no feelings for him, was she acting like this when she'd have to tell him she already had plans. She was acting unreasonable and she knew it, but in an effort to justify her actions to herself she reasoned that it was because he knew she had previously – previously damnit!- had feelings for him. Of course it would be awkward.

She opened her mouth a couple of times, but no sound came out. When Alec looked at her strangely and asked gently "Max?" she swallowed and tried again.

"I-I can't tonight Alec." She said hoarsely, although she hoped he didn't notice. True to her luck, of course he did.

"Max, are you okay? Is there anything I can do to help?" Alec stopped her form walking and turned her to face him. He slipped a couple of fingers and lifted her eyes to meet his. "Max?" he insisted gently.

Fighting a losing battle against blushing, Max had no choice but to look into his eyes as she said. "I'm fine Alec. I just," she swallowed "have plans tonight is all."

He dropped his fingers from her chin, "Plans." He repeated flatly, giving no indication to how he felt.

Her back nearly arched, while the other part of her wanted to run and hide and turn her face away, but damnit she had faced down Ames White and she could sure as hell tell a former crush that she was going on a date without acting like a six year old caught with her hand in the cookie jar! With a firm shut up to the part of her brain that insisted she had more than a mere crush on Alec. That she had been in love with him and still was, Max continued "Yes." She restated a little more firmly than before, but less firmly than she would have liked. Why did she feel like she was on shaky ground? "Plans."

She almost missed a hint of sadness, - and what was that something else?- in his eyes as he dropped them away from hers and they resumed their walk. "Oh. Okay."

Nothing more was said as they continued their walk, but Max was left to wonder if it was just her or was there a great deal of awkwardness and hurt between them now?

Meanwhile Alec was kicking himself. He should have acted sooner, and made how he felt known. But it was too soon, and he knew it. She hadn't been ready. Stupid Miguel! He bitterly cursed, Stupid him! He took some comfort as they continued on the path that he wasn't out of the game yet. He had seen the flash of pain in her eyes as she'd told him, and though he didn't ever want to hurt her he took comfort in that she still cared enough to feel hurt and not just embarrassed (or worst indifferent) when telling him she was going on a date. Oh, she hadn't told him it was Miguel but he knew, he just knew when someone was after her, and that guy was!

They reached the end of their walk, and Alec reached out to her a little, "Hey." Max turned to him at his face. "Have a good time tonight." He hesitated and leaned in slightly as if to kiss her on the cheek, but turned away at the last minute. "See you later."

"Later," Max muttered slightly confused after him as he walked away. A small part of her inwardly rejoiced at seeing the caring expression in his eyes before he turned away. Perhaps there was still hope after all? It was a question Max tried to push away from her thoughts.

X-X-X

The doorbell to the apartment rang sending strains of Dante's Prayer through the apartment. Max had had Zane help her rig it up, after she nearly broke the doorbell herself when she heard it's annoying ring for the third time in an hour.

Max walked over and answered the door. Miguel grinned at her and produced a single red rose from behind his back for her. "You look beautiful." He told her.

Max smiled a little self-consciously at her casual black pants, and three-quarter sleeve red v-neck top. She wasn't wearing anything fancy, and the only change in her appearance was the lack of jeans, earrings, and a touch of make-up. She excused herself to put the rose in a small vase of water. She set in a window opposite the orchid, grabbed her leather jacket and they were off.

Miguel said nothing about the orchid and showed no signs of recognizing it. As he led her out of the building, Max was forced to wonder why he had given her a red rose instead of an orchid or a lily especially as she wasn't too fond of roses herself, something she was pretty sure she had mentioned to her 'secret admirer'. If so, she had to fight back the feeling that she was about to make a huge mistake…

X-X-X-X-X

And that's all for now folks. Please tell me what you think of the latest developments in a review. I won't be updating this week as I have too many tests and projects (which I actually should be doing right now) but I will try to update on the weekend.

Also, sorry about the major cliffhanger, but it wouldn't be a true chapter story on without at least one really annoying cliffhanger. It had the bad luck to be this chapter. I hope you enjoyed.