-Kissed by a Rose-

The night was cold, a stale cold and it was making Johnny irritable, and that wasn't what he wanted to be tonight. He was searching the docks for her, and in all honesty he wasn't sure why he was seeking her out and not Lulu. Though he knew Lulu was with Logan, trying to give him a chance when her heart just wasn't really in it. And now, as Johnny looked around at the drab February scene he realized it fit perfectly for tonight, his lonely Valentines night.

"Just leave me alone Lucky!" he heard her, obviously yelling at Lulu's brother. He peered around the corner watching the scene, sensing the odd comfort and tension that flowed between the two.

"Maxie, you shouldn't be alone right now." He reminded her, knowing she was still in pain over loosing Georgie, and everyone starting to accuse Cooper of being the killer wasn't doing her much good either.

She shook her head, her hair hitting her face as the wind from the water made it harsher. "What makes right now any different then any other time Lucky? I'm already alone, my parents left me, Jesse and Georgie were murdered, and now everyone thinks it was Coop." She looked away, in the corner of her eye she saw Johnny, "Everyone I love, leaves, everyone I grow close too or attached too leaves or at the very least ends up hating me."

Lucky felt the urge to reach out to her, but held back, "Maxie, when your ready to talk, please just call me."

"Don't be waiting for it." Maxie walked towards the steps and up towards Johnny, "Enjoying the show?"

"Not the ideal Valentines Day, is it?" Was all he asked.

Maxie rolled her eyes, "Is this my newest curse, you on the romantic holidays?"

"It could be worse." He walked in a circle around her.

"Oh yeah, how?" She crossed her arms over her chest.

Johnny smiled, "You could be stuck watching Logan and Lulu together."

Maxie automatically made a gagging sound at the idea, "Okay that could be worse. Is that why you're out here, wandering the docks?"

"Actually," Johnny moved towards the steps, "I was looking for you."

Maxie watched as he started down them and then went after him, "You were looking for me?"

He nodded, "Yeah, I figured New Years Eve sucked, so Valentines might as well and I was right."

"So what is it you want from me?"

He looked down into her eyes, they were still sad and hurt, but it was different this time. This time it was more like a puzzle, each piece a different loss, a different fear coming true. "I was hoping that I would look into your eyes and some of the sadness would be gone. Only, this time, its worse. I didn't think that was possible."

Maxie was frozen, she didn't know what to say or how to say it. "Things went from bad to worse."

"I heard you and Spencer arguing."

She shrugged, "That's what we do best these days."

"History, no matter how big or little it is, or how meaningless or random it may seem in that moment always has a bigger piece of making us who we are then we realize." He unzipped his jacket and removed the cellophane wrapped plastic rose he'd found at the gas station earlier that day. "I thought you could use a pick me up. Its fake so it'll last forever, no sadness of watching it fade away."

Maxie reached out, he had been thinking of her. This wasn't right this was just outright weird. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." He looked out at the water, "Hopefully we get some fresh snow soon, I think we could all use the idea of a fresh, clean world."

Maxie gave him a small smile before stretching up on her tip toes and kissed him softly on the lips.

Johnny held onto her as soon as she was close, afraid she would fall or break in her fragile frame. His heart skipped a beat when her lips met his, and he felt his blood start to boil.

She pulled away, feeling breathless, knowing she had to get away before whatever this was clouded her mind, "I should get home."

He nodded, "Hold on to hope Maxie."

"You too Johnny." She started up the stairs, wondering when she would have another run in like this with him and if perhaps that's what she should hope for.

Johnny started the other way, feeling as though perhaps he was making his new years resolution come true in a way he hadn't even thought of.