It was Malcolm's job to study things, but everybody had a blind spot. Listening to Malcolm explain to Cookie that he had quit his job and wanted her to come with him to Washington, D.C. made Cookie so light-headed that she nearly fainted. Not only did Lucious know that they'd slept together, but he knew that Malcolm was willing to sacrifice everything he'd worked for at Empire for her. He was walking away from Lucious Lyon, and that was something Cookie knew that Malcolm would never get away with. Somehow, some way, Lucious was going to get him back. "Malcolm…"

"Look," he said, putting his hands on her shoulders. "I wanna take care of you. Alright?" This dream of taking away an ex-felon and living in their nation's capital was so far-fetched that it bordered on being a fairy tale, but Malcolm's eyes were so full of hope that Cookie could've cried. He really thought that this could happen. "Come with me," he pleaded, and his eyes were so full of hope that Cookie could've cried for him.

Cookie stepped forward to touch Malcolm's gorgeous features – his long lashes, his high cheekbones, his dark brown skin. "Malcolm…you are a beautiful man. But I can't." She looked around the office, at the records she had produced. "I-I can't leave all of this," she said before Malcolm could protest. "I worked too hard. I can't."

Deep down, Cookie was tired of the business. She was tired of being mistreated, tired of waiting on Lucious to die, tired of fighting for everything and everyone for what was hers. Malcolm would never know how badly Cookie wanted to say yes, to stay up in the mountains with Malcolm and make love by candlelight forever. But there was unfinished business to attend to, and Cookie couldn't give her heart to Malcolm or anybody else until it was settled.

The office door opened, and Spencer was standing there. "I'm sorry, sir," he said to Malcolm, and they could both see how much he hated to do this. Spencer knew how Malcolm felt about Cookie, and he'd been genuinely happy that Cookie had gone away with him. He longed to have the balls Malcolm did, but Spencer also had five kids to feed. "But, uh-"

"Yeah, I know. Our time is up." Cookie smiled sadly. "That's a phrase that I've heard many times before."

Cookie knew she was being selfish, but she had to help herself to one more kiss, then another. Being with Malcolm allowed Cookie to feel beautiful and respectable and protected, and she wanted to feel that way for just a little longer. "Thank you," Cookie whispered, and she meant it with all her heart.

As Cookie walked away from Malcolm to finish her packing – she couldn't bear to see him walk out the door – she fought to keep from crying. That cabin weekend had taught Cookie that was possible for her to love again one day. Maybe it was even possible with Malcolm. Maybe once Lucious died, she could go back to him. God, why did Lucious have to be so unfair?

"Lucious said you would never leave him."

The words hit Cookie like a ton of bricks. When she turned to look at Malcolm, she was taken aback by the resignation on his face. "What?"

"Lucious said that no matter what, you would never leave him." Malcolm shook his head, unable to fathom Cookie's loyalty to a man who had treated her so badly. "My cousin Olivia said once that some women don't know how to be treated well. I guess you're one of them." Once again, Malcolm's insecurities about her ex-husband were starting to show.

Cookie couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You think this is about Lucious? Not about the 17 years I lost for this company? Or the fact that I helped create this bitch? Or about living near my sons – who, just in case you forgot, I haven't seen in nearly two decades. How about the fact that I'm an ex-felon, Malcolm? I'm not even supposed to leave the state! Do you have any idea what could happen if our trip got back to my probation officer?"

Malcolm was beginning to see how petulant he sounded, and Cookie hadn't even started yet. "I know your type, Malcolm," Cookie added as Spencer quickly left the room. "You're one of those fuckboys who thinks that he's doing me a favor because you lowered yourself to be with an ex-con, huh? You think you're such a good person because you want to take care of a hoodrat with three kids? You slummin'?"

"Fine, Cookie. I'm sorry." Malcolm's voice was dripping with sarcasm as he spoke. "I'm sorry for trying to do something special for you. Next time, I'll take you to a truck stop hotel or a night club bathroom. Would you like that better, since you don't like being taken care of?"

"Oh, my God…are you even hearing me, Malcolm? I don't need you to take care of me! I can take care of myself! You think you've done so much for me because you took me up to your friend's cabin?"

Malcolm closed his eyes, and Cookie cursed herself for sounding so callous. She didn't care how much money Malcolm had or didn't have, but she sounded like a gold digger, measuring men by the size of their wallets. "So that's what this is about, Malcolm finally responded. "You're too money hungry to be a veteran's wife. That's why you put up with all of Lucious's shit – for the money."

"Your wife?" Was Malcolm as crazy as Lucious was? Was he falling as hard for her as fast as Lucious had over 30 years ago? Was she on the verge of becoming yet another man's possession? "Whoever said anything about being your wife? You don't even know me that well! And I don't know you! We've only been together for what, a week? Are you crazy?!"

"Maybe I am." Malcolm looked embarrassed, but he wouldn't deny how he felt, just like he hadn't denied the way he felt about Cookie the day he came into her office and told her that he couldn't stop thinking about her. "I've asked myself over and over why I'm falling for you so hard. I don't know, Cookie. I just am, okay? Don't twist how I feel about you so you can justify staying here."

"I don't need to justify anything to you, Malcolm! I mean, how can you…you don't even..." A thought came to Cookie. "Malcolm, what's my name?"

"Your name?" Malcolm was confused by the question.

"Yes, my name! My mama didn't name me Cookie, stupid!"

When Malcolm didn't answer, Cookie found a way out. "You're standing here telling me that I'm money hungry and don't want to be a sailor's wife and you want to take care of me. How do you know what I want and what I don't want when you don't even know me? You don't even know my name, Malcolm," Cookie called over her shoulder. She couldn't bear to look at his beautiful face anymore. "Remember that."

Cookie had just picked up a picture frame to pack when Malcolm spoke. "Loretha."

Malcolm's voice was so soft and tender that Cookie shivered inside. How did Malcolm make such an ugly name sound so sensual? "How did you…"

Malcolm crossed the room and wrapped his arms around Cookie's waist. "I looked your name up in your personnel records the day I met you. I had to know more about you, Loretha…Diane…Holloway." Malcolm kissed the tip of Cookie's nose with each name. "Born at St. Joseph's Hospital in north Philadelphia. Seven pounds, three ounces."

"Malcolm…" Cookie said weakly, knowing she should let Malcolm go, but not wanting to.

"Your favorite candy is Lemon Heads," Malcolm continued. "You love coconut oil, but you're allergic to coconuts. You don't like red roses, but you love white ones. Chocolate chip cookies make you sick. Your favorite color is green, not purple. And you hate being called Cookie Monster."

When Malcolm reached out to wipe her tears away, Cookie took his hand and kissed his palm. Malcolm smiled at such a gentle gesture. "You have a Master of Legal Studies degree that you've never told anybody about. You can't sleep unless the radio or the TV is on," he continued, stroking Cookie's hair in that intimate way that made her feel so safe and loved. "You cry every time Penny gets her arm burned on Good Times. And before you met Lucious," he added with a chuckle, "you wanted to marry Freddie Jackson."

"Damn, Malcolm. I didn't even know all that."

Standing at the door, immensely enjoying Malcolm's pathetic display of affection, was Lucious Lyon. Cookie quickly wiped her eyes and pulled away from Malcolm, but she didn't pull her hand put of his, nor did Malcolm pull his hand out of hers. "By the way, Cookie," Lucious added casually, "I know all about your master's degree. You really think the government was paying for a felon to go to college?"

"It was the least you could do," Malcolm observed flatly, furious that Lucious had listened in on such a private conversation.

Lucious let out a mocking laugh. "Ah, Malcolm. Came up here and simped yourself out like a bitch, huh? Now you ain't got no job and you ain't got no girl. But that's Cookie for you," he added, throwing a sardonic smile in Cookie's direction. "She can make a man do things he normally wouldn't do. I tried to warn you," he added helpfully.

Lucious had been right. Cookie was staying with Empire and with Lucious. Malcolm had lost to this golden-eyed demon, but he'd be damned if he let it show. "I have a job," Malcolm said evenly, trying to control his anger. He'd already lost his temper earlier today.

"Oh, yeah. Your little security job at some bullshit communications firm up in D.C. They gonna let you have a flashlight with your clip-on tie?" Lucious sneered.

"Lucious!" Why is Lucious acting like this? Cookie wondered. And how did Lucious know about Malcolm's job? She soon found out. "You know," Malcolm said, "I heard that you called my job about me, but it seems like they don't let drug dealing scumbags work for Pope and Associates."

"Malcolm!" Now Malcolm was stepping on Cookie's toes.

Malcolm shrugged, as if nothing mattered anymore. "What's he going to do? Fire me?" Malcolm smiled bitterly. "I've already lost you, Cookie. He can't take anything else from me."

"Oh, you'd be surprised at what I can do to you, Malcolm," Lucious said coolly. "By the time I'm done with you, you'll be lucky if you can work at McDonald's."

When Malcolm took a step forward, Cookie knew she had to put a stop to it. The last thing Cookie needed in her life was two men fighting over her, especially not these two. Malcolm was proud – navy proud – but Lucious was a stone cold killer. "Malcolm…you should probably go now." She grabbed her box, not caring about anything else in the office. "I'll come with you…"

"No, that's okay. You finish packing." Malcolm kissed Cookie on the cheek. Disappointment was written all over his face. "Goodbye, Cookie."

Malcolm didn't say see you later or I'll call you or let's keep in touch. Watching Cookie protecting Lucious at his expense, Malcolm wasn't sure if he ever wanted to see or hear from Cookie again. He shoved Lucious so hard as he stormed out the door that Lucious fell to the floor. "'Ey, Malcolm! You sure you don't wanna stay here at Empire?" We got a A&R slot open!" Lucious relished the way Malcolm stalked up the hallway and down the stairs, rather than waiting on the escalator.

Lucious was still smiling when he turned to his ex-wife. "You still here, Cook? I thought I told my men to take out the trash."

"What did you say to him, Lucious? What did you tell him!?" Malcolm had never spoken to her so harshly before, nor had he ever come across as so unhinged. Move to D.C. with him? Be a sailor's wife? Other than the Berkshires, they'd never even gone on a date before.

"I just told him the truth, baby," Lucious said, smiling sweetly. "I told him that we had history and that you were never going to leave with him."

Now everything fell into place. Lucious had sparked something territorial in Malcolm, even though she had a million non-Lucious reasons to stay. Lucious had intentionally come between the two of them, and for what? Lucious had moved on years ago, leaving Cookie to twist in the wind. "Don't you 'baby' me, you sick motherfucker! You don't own me!"

"But you are my baby, Cookie Monster." Lucious said in such a syrupy sweet voice that Cookie's blood ran cold. "We're going to be together forever. Don't you know that?"

"Go to hell, Lucious." Cookie turned her back to him and began to pack again. After all, she didn't belong here anymore. She sure as hell didn't belong to Lucious, no matter what he said. And the first thing she planned to do when she got home was to call Malcolm and try to work things out. D.C. wasn't that far from New York, after all.

"Cookie," Lucious said quietly, closing the office door behind him. When Cookie ignored Lucious, he crossed the room and reached around her waist to stop her hands from moving. The smell of Malcolm's aftershave made Lucious gag. Cookie's scent all over Malcolm was insulting to Lucious, but Malcolm's scent all over Cookie was a different story entirely. "Cookie," Lucious repeated as Cookie gathered up the last of her things and prepared to leave, "just tell me one thing before you go."

Cookie met Lucious's steely gaze. "What is it, Lucious? I need to get out of here. Some asshole fired me today."

Lucious didn't want her to go. Not really. He was just so mad at her – first for not accepting his marriage proposal, and second for going away with some lame-ass security guard. Everything Cookie and Lucious had worked for was in this building. Lucious had dreamed of the day he and Cookie could be together again, and yet she waltzed into his building with the smell of another man all over her body. "Cookie, did you really think I was going to let you leave me for Malcolm?"

"What?" Cookie's heart had been beating fast. Now it began to race. "What do you mean, let me leave?"

"Your little boyfriend's phone has a GPS too, you know. I could've found you in half an hour once I knew that he was with you." Lucious sat down in Cookie's old office chair and crossed his leg while Cookie fought to keep breathing. "I thought about it, you know," he said pleasantly. "About finding the two on the road and making you pull over. Putting a bullet in Malcolm's head and making you watch." Cookie began to tremble as Lucious went on with his bloody fantasy as casually as if he was telling Cookie the weather. "It would have been your fault, Cookie. And it's still not too late."

"You monster!" Cookie hurled her box at Lucious, then jumped on top of him, beating his body with fists and clawing at his face with her nails. "Leave him alone! Leave him alone!" she screamed as the chair tipped over and the both toppled to the ground. Malcolm, her beautiful, beautiful Malcolm dead, was more than what Cookie could stand. It was why she left him so easily. Come with me. I wanna take care of you. Malcolm would have been dead before he reached the Potomac, all because of her.

Lucious grabbed Cookie and flipped her over, straddling her high on her hips so that she couldn't move. Despite his ALS, Lucious was still surprisingly strong and fast. "Why did you go off with him, Cookie?" Lucious hissed in her ear. "Why did you have to go in the woods to fuck a goddamned Boy Scout? I'm supposed to be your only man!"

"Get off me, motherfucker!" Startled, Lucious rolled up, and he found himself at the bottom of Cookie's mount. She wanted so badly to choke him, to watch the life drain out of his eyes. "You were my only man, Lucious! And you couldn't been – I wanted you to be!" Cookie didn't want to cry in front of Lucious, but the pain of losing Malcolm and being threatened by Lucious all in the same day was too much for her heart to take. Cookie's tears splashed onto Lucious face. "I even gave you another chance and you fucked that up, too! 'I'm not leaving you for Anika.' Remember that?" she yelled, getting to her feet. "You don't own me, Lucious."

"Yes, I do, Cookie," Lucious also rose from the floor, brushing off his slacks. "I own your heart just like you own mine. Okay, so you got your groove back. I admit that pisses me off a little. But hell, maybe I deserved that-"

"Maybe!?"

"-but I forgive you, Cookie. I forgive you." Putting his arm around Cookie's waist, Lucious stroked Cookie's hair - not in that tender, loving way that Malcolm did earlier, but as if he was claiming every hair on Cookie's head. There was no love there, only possession. "I'm going to let this slide because you didn't know any better," he said benevolently. "Next time, I won't be so merciful."

Cookie knew she should've let Lucious leave the room in peace, but she couldn't help herself. She wanted to hurt Lucious as badly as he was hurting her. "You know what I told Malcolm after the first time we made love, Lucious?" she asked, standing on shaky legs, but speaking with a firm voice.

Lucious turned around. "What?" he asked, his voice making it clear that Cookie was treading on thin ice.

"I told Malcolm that I couldn't wait for you to die so we could have a memorial concert and jack up the ticket price. And as soon as you do, Lucious, I'm going back to my Boy Scout. That's right," Cookie added as Lucious's face turned pale. "You think I'm here because I chose you? Naw, Boo-Boo. I chose Malcolm, not you. The only reason why I'm still here is because I'm going to fight for what's mine. And as soon as you die, I'm gonna fuck my little boyfriend right on top of your grave."

"You watch your mouth," Lucious threatened.

"Kiss my ass, Lucious." Cookie was already tired of this conversation. "You're not going to touch Malcolm and we both know it."

"Oh?" Lucious's perverse stare frightened Cookie, but she didn't break his gaze. "Why not?"

Cookie matched Lucious's mocking smile. "Because you know I'll never forgive you. Whatever love I ever had for you will be dead forever if you even lay a finger on that man."

"Who cares?" Lucious asked coolly. "He'll still be dead when I'm gone."

The truth of that statement wiped the smirk off Cookie's face. Lucious gave Cookie a smile so sweet that one would never guess the monster that lay beneath it. "Let's not fight, Cook. Why don't you come over tonight so we can have dinner and talk?" Lucious asked kindly, "Let's see if we can find some kind of common ground. Oh, but take a shower first." Lucious leaned forward and kissed Cookie on the cheek. "If you ever in your life come to me smelling like him," he whispered in her ear, and his voice carried a clear threat, "you know what I'm gonna do. Right?" He kissed Cookie lovingly on the cheek. "Right?" he demanded, expecting an answer.

Cookie did know what would happen. They both did. Lucious might not have been a man of his word, but there was no question that this was a promise that Lucious would keep. Cookie looked into Lucious's eyes, and what she saw back put terror into her heart. For the first time in her life, Cookie was afraid of Lucious Lyon. "Don't hurt him, Lucious," "Cookie pleaded, all of her bravado gone. "He's gone now. Leave Malcolm alone, Lucious...please?" For God's sake, have mercy on him.

"That's up to you, Cookie. It's all up to you." And Lucious was gone, closing the door behind him.

Alone, Cookie slumped back to the floor and cried. Malcolm had been right, and so was Lucious, and Cookie hated them both for it. Malcolm and Lucious both knew that Lucious could fuck all the Boo Boo Kittys in the world, and fire her from the company that she helped create, and even threaten to kill every lover Cookie had. It didn't matter. Cookie had sacrificed her youth and her freedom for Lucious, so what was giving up one more thing?

Malcolm would never understand or appreciate it, but this was best for both of them. Lucious and Cookie had a love that was so parasitic that the only thing that could free Cookie from Lucious was death. And as quiet as it was kept, Cookie didn't really want to be free. She didn't deserve to be.

END

When I wrote this story a long time ago (it was in five parts then), I got some backlash from people (mainly Luckie fans) who felt like I wasn't properly writing a fine gentleman like Lucious, who would never treat Cookie this way. Personally, I don't see anything that suggests that Lucious doesn't treat Cookie this way as we speak. Even before that ridiculous "Dwight Walker" garbage, it really bothered me when people (especially young people) would go on and on about how Lucious and Cookie are true love. The truth is that Lucious has always been emotionally abusive to Cookie.

Recall back in episode 102 when Cookie said, "What have I ever done to you for you to treat me like this?" That's a damn good question. Think about all the things Lucious has done to Cookie since she got out of prison: he made her life hell from the day she got out. He screwed her and dumped her again, telling her flat out that he wasn't leaving Anika for her. (He also told Anika this in the episode where Anika nearly lost her baby in ep. 214.) Lucious wanted to marry Cookie again (ep. 110), but he was planning a pre-nup with Vernon. And when Cookie found a good guy who wanted to be with her in spite of her past, Lucious fired Cookie because of it, but not Malcolm. (ep. 111 - more on that in a minute.)

Lucious also did all he could to run Lyon Dynasty into the ground - poached artists, bugged the studio, bought out air time so Dynasty's music couldn't be played, and so on. In the season one finale, he calls Cookie a hoodrat, and in season two, he refers to Cookie as "my baby mama." Now it turns out that he didn't even tell her the truth about his name, let alone his past. For over 30 years, he has lied to Cookie and his family about the death of his mother, his name, and (as we learned in the S2 finale) his father being killed by the nation of Islam. (IThere's nothing that suggested that his father's killer was anything but a typical street thug.) Oh, and let's not forget that Lucious threatened to kill Anika after her child is born - which Cookie is fully aware of - had a reporter killed for the sin of...you know, REPORTING...and asked Cookie to stick around while he married her arch-enemy. But hey! True love, right? Long like Cookie and Lu...Dwi...whoever the fuck he is.

Even Lucious not firing Malcolm was abusive. It's easy to forget, but Cookie and Malcolm were in the Berkshires for four days and three nights. We also see in 111 that Cookie was planning to introduce Malcolm to Carol, so there are no signs that this would've been a one-night stand. While Lucious might have kept Malcolm due to that "friends close/enemies closer" angle, there was a bonus motive: Malcolm "choosing" Lucious over Cookie by keeping his job would've been the ultimate "bitch you ain't shit" triumph over Cookie. But not only did Malcolm leave Empire because of what Lucious did to Cookie, he straight up quit. And since they both left at once, any idiot at Empire would've been able to figure out why. (If they didn't, Porsha's loud ass would've told them.)

Originally, I didn't buy the idea that Malcolm could've done all that and Lucious would've left him alone. (I still question whether homeboy turned up dead later on.) But the truth is that abusers tend to know who to fuck with and who not to. Lucious was always throwing shade at Laz's bitch ass, but when Malcolm took Cookie out of Lucious's arms and walked her right out of Lucious's house in front of Lucious's family (110), Lucious didn't make a sound. Why? Because Lucious knew that he couldn't fuck with Malcolm like he could fuck with Laz.

Still, I think the fans were seriously cheated out of a Lucious/Malcolm showdown. If anything, we should've seen when Lucious didn't fire Malcolm. We know that Lucious knew that Cookie slept with together, so how did that conversation even go down? "I know you smashed the homie, but 'ey, mayne, don't even worry about that." Yeah, hardly. By the way, I was shocked to read and hear so many male viewers being totally on Lucious's side when it came to firing Cookie. I was reading a radio poll, and the vote was 88% for Lucious! The word "betrayed" kept coming up, as in "Cookie betrayed Lucious." Fam, were we watching the same show!?

Anyway, feel free to sound off in the comments. I'm curious to know how people see Cookie and Lucious's relationship, or even have opposite points of view. I don't think I'll ever be convinced that their love is anything but sick as hell, but I do love writing pre-prison Lucious and Cookie. As far as I'm concerned, that Dwight Walker bullshit does not exist. Oh, and if you've never heard "You Keep Me Hanging On" by the Supremes, read the lyrics and tell me if you don't think of Lucious and Cookie. If I didn't know any better, I'd think that the show was actually inspired by that song.