After Alex arrived home, took a shower, denied the urge to punch a hole in the wall, and took a bottle from the liquor cabinet, she sat on the couch, a new wave of emotion coming on every so often. Rage, sadness, depression, dread, anger, worry, and guilt. These raw emotions seemed to define Alex, the light in her eyes was gone, and the hope that seemed to always be there, wasn't.

Life seemed to be looking down on her. Once it seemed that she was going to pick herself up, she was kicked to the dirt. She was doing her best, but she needed help, and her partner in crime didn't seem to be around when Alex needed her most. "This is all some sick twisted game. The most recent method of torture to inflict upon my life."

"Why is this so hard? Is this god's test? Some sort of relationship obstacle course, trying to break up the weakest bonds?" These were questions running through Alex's head. She was trying her damndest to figure out why this was happening, and how to get through this preferably with Marissa standing at the finish line waiting for her. "Marissa…"

"Are we strong enough to make it through the fall, make it through it all?" She questioned as the front door opened. Alex hadn't realized how must time had passed, or how much alcohol had been consumed.

Marissa stepped through the door, and was instantly startled that Alex was home. All the lights were off. "Something's wrong." She immediately assumed at the sight of Alex on the sofa with a bottle of liquor almost empty.

"Sorry, I used some of your mad at Alex alcohol." The blond said, raising the fifth over her head and shaking Marissa out of her thoughts.

"How was your day?" Marissa asked, closing the door and setting her bags down. She needed to know what was going on.

"Honestly… it sucked ass." Marissa approached cautiously.

"Is everything okay, Alex?"

"Hah! Oh yeah, everything is just peachy." She said icily. When Marissa came closer, she saw Alex's eyes, red, puffy, and lifeless. This scared Marissa. Alex never cried to her knowledge, and no matter what was going on, she always had a certain spark in her eyes, one that always kept Marissa sane. "This must be something big." Was her conclusion.

"Have you been crying?"

"Yes! I'm allowed, I am only human, no matter what you seem to think sometimes."

"What happened?"

"You really wanna know?"

"Yes, you're obviously freaking out about something."

"I got fired."

Marissa sat on the coffee table across from Alex, shock showing through her features. "Oh."

"Yeah."

"Well… how? Why?" Still shell-shocked she was having trouble formulating sentences.

"Mr. Asshole decided he didn't like me because I drink frequently and I'm dating another woman."

"Henry fired you?"

"No, the guy that bought the company fired me."

"You didn't tell me the company was for sale."

"It wasn't… until Henry died last night."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Well, what was the guy's name? You could probably file a discrimination lawsuit or something."

"I figured Mr. Asshole suited him well."

"You didn't get his name?"

"I'm sorry if I was so pissed, and worried, and scared I didn't catch his name!"

"I guess that's not so bad." Marissa said before better judgment didn't allow her to.

"Oh hell no she didn't." Alex thought. "Not so bad? Do you have any idea the hell I've gone through today? On top of the sadness that a good friend of mine died, the shock that people are as closed-minded as they were in the 19th century, and the anger that I was fired for no damn reason, I had to deal with the fucking fear and dread of the thought that you might leave me because I can't afford to take care of you anymore!" Alex yelled, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Marissa looked away. She was angry that Alex thought for even a second she would leave. "The thought that I might leave…" She said quietly. "Is that really how little you think of me? Is that really all you think I care about?"

Silence fell upon the two. Tension in the air was so thick you could practically see it.

"Look Alex… I know you think I'm not grateful for all that you've done for me, all that you do for me, and not thankful for having someone that cares enough about me to not only put up with my shit, but make sure I'm taken care of, but I am. I don't show it like I know I should, but I do. In reality, it means the world to me." Marissa paused, trying to put her thoughts into words.

"You and I both know the last couple months have been hard…" Marissa began. "For you more than me, but hard none the less. The extra hours you had picked up, and the new courses I had signed up for, really put a strain on our relationship. I mean we barely see each other, and when we do, the stress makes us only do things out of frustration. I think… no I know, the only reason you work so hard is for me. And I appreciate it because the apartment is great, and the car is great, and my schooling is great, and the trips to Newport are great, and all you do around the house is great, but all of that stuff… I don't need."

"I need to know you're not overworking, I need to know when you're stressed… I need you to be okay… I need you around." Marissa said, tears becoming known. "I only said it's not so bad because you obviously need a break."

"I can't take a break, Marissa, if I take a break we lose everything, I lose everything."

"Are you not listening to me? I don't care if we have to downsize, I don't care if we need to sell my car, I don't care if I can't take trips down to Newport, and I don't care if I need to start working to make sure you're you aren't overworking. I mean it'll be about time I start pulling my own weight around here. I just… I just can't not see you anymore. I'm not going anywhere, like ever. You don't have to worry about taking so much care of me, you don't always have to be the hero. I didn't run away with you once upon a time because you were my way out of Newport, I ran away with you because I loved you, I stayed because I loved you, and I will continue to stay because I still love you."

"I… I." Alex's drunken mind was trying to process everything, speaking wasn't really an option to a mind already working in overdrive. She meant to say "I love you too." But it just wasn't happening. "Wow."

"You never were one with words." Marissa said grinning. She marveled at the way she could handicap Alex's speaking abilities.

"I love you." Alex said with a stupid grin plastered on her face.

"I know." Marissa never doubted that Alex loved her. Every move Alex made, every intention was always for Marissa's benefit. All because of how much Alex loved her, and all because of how much Alex needed her.

After many moments of just smiling at each other, the blond asked, "So we're moving?"

"I think both of us could use a change."

"Remind me to leave the couch here when it happens."

Marissa chuckled. "So, let's go get that take out I was promised." She said standing up and helping Alex up. Marissa was glad the stars in Alex's eyes seemed to light up again. It seemed to give her hope for the future.

"You buying?"

For the first time both women looked forward to the future's obstacles, because they knew they'd get through it all, together.

The End

AN: I know, I know, cheesy ending, but anybody with a problem with it can kiss my ass. A big thank you to everyone who read this story, and actually stuck with it until the end. This is my very first multi-chaptered fan fiction, so any constructive criticism is welcome. Flamers welcome, just give me a reason why you hate it.

The inspiration to this story came from a song called "For The First Time" By The Script. If you haven't heard it, you should look it up, it's good.

Special thanks to: CJ4Eva, CustomHeroine, bmq1689, and the anonymous reviewers katters, and nola90 for giving me your feedback, it's really appreciated.

Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own the O.C. or any characters or ideas taken from the show. If I did Alex would have stayed, and Marissa wouldn't have been such a bitch. All rights go to their rightful owners.