Love You, Hate You
Disclaimer - Dark Angel is not mine, nor do i claim to own it.
Summary - Its been 6 years since Max and Alec last saw each other how will they react?
It was a little past 5 in the afternoon when Max heard a knock on her and Sam's door.
She'd spent all day fussing about what to wear in fact she was so preoccupied with what she was doing, Sam had to go pick Jamie up from school.
Not expecting anyone and knowing Sam had a key and would let herself in Max made her way to the door.
Opening it she found a grinning Ben with a bag in his hand. Max's eyes widened "What…What are you doing here?" She asked after getting over her shock.
"Forget we had a date?" He smirked still standing on the other side of the door.
Max smiled at him "No but how did you find me?"
"Internet is a wonderful thing you'd be amazed what you can find out plus you really should have given me your address how else was I meant to pick you up for this thing?" He asked raising his eyebrow.
Max stepped back gesturing for him to enter the apartment, he nodded his head as he past her "Thanks thought you were never going to let me in" He grinned.
Max glared and watched as he walked into her apartment glancing around taking it all in.
"We don't have to leave right now do we?" Max asked panic rising in her body.
Ben turned around facing her "No, no just thought we could get ready together you know like the old times"
"What time do we have to leave?"
Ben checked his watch before answering "We have to be there for 8" he informed her and Max's shoulders sagged "That's not giving me a lot of time" She said more to herself than him.
"When did you become a girl?" Ben asked dropping his back on the table and smiling at her.
"I've always been a girl" she fought back.
Ben just looked at her, a look that said 'yeah right'
Silence rained for a few minutes, a comfortable silence which given how long it had been between them last seeing each other was quite amazing.
"Well make yourself at home" Max said turning around and heading back in the direction of her bedroom.
Ben followed "Wanna know what else I found on the internet?" he asked
Max's body tensed and Ben noticed, she didn't speak just waited on him continuing
"An engagement announcement" Ben started "Announcing Miss Max Guevera and Logan Cale had gotten engaged" he finished and Max's body relaxed a little 'Just that' Max thought to herself.
Max turned around with a smile on her face "Yeah I'm engaged" she shrugged her shoulders "So?"
"So where is my invite to the wedding?"
"Where's my invite to your brothers?" She snapped
Ben was taken aback by the harsh tone of her voice and raised his hands in surrender "Sorry" he said simply.
"No I'm sorry, I haven't set a date yet plus it's not like we're going on an actual date your only invited me to wind your brother up" Max said with a knowing smile.
Ben's face lit up and he bent his head to hide his smile "I'm not" he tried to defend himself but Max knew him too well.
"Sure your not" she said pushing him a little on the shoulder "Come watch me be a girl" Max said to him pulling him into her bedroom.
"Remind me why I was always the one that got to do the friend thing with you girls?" Max looked at him for a second, she wasn't sure why he was always the friend and why Alec had been the one she was attracted too that's just the way it was.
"Because you love me too much to date me" Max grinned. Ben nodded his head in agreement.
They spent the next 45 minutes talking and Max really wasn't getting anywhere with trying to find a dress, Sam should have been here to help her.
And she should have been home ages ago Jamie got out of school at 4 it was now just after six. Picking up her cell phone she called Sam's number.
"Just climbing the stairs" Sam said into the phone not bothered to ask who it was or say "Hello"
Max smiled she was glad Sam was so close she needed her help but then she remembered about Ben being here and the fact that Jamie was with Sam.
She just hoped Ben wouldn't make any sort of connection.
Just then the door to the apartment flew open and a little boy with dirty blonde hair came running through the apartment headed straight for Max.
"Mummy!" he called as he wrapped his arms around her legs.
Ben watched as this little boy who didn't look more than 6 came running into Maxs' bedroom and called her mummy.
"Mummy?" Ben asked standing up from the bed and making his way towards Max.
Max looked at him and opened her mouth to speak just as Sam came into view.
"Ben!"? Sam screamed from the door and came running in and jumped into his arms, he stumbled back not expecting it but managed to keep her up and not let either of them fall.
Max watched her sister jump into Ben's arms and laughed bending down she picked up her son who was looking at his aunt with confusion.
"What's Sam doing mummy?" he looked at his mum hoping for an answer it wasn't like his auntie to act so strange.
"She's just happy baby" Max said kissing him on the head.
Jamie finally noticed the man and looked at him strangely at the same time Ben placed Sam back on the floor.
"Good to see you too" he laughed glancing at the little boy out the side of his eye.
"Who's this?" Ben asked pointing at Jamie.
Jamie turned in his mother's arms and hid his face in her neck "This is Jamie" she said looking at Ben then spoke to Jamie "Say hi Jamie" Jamie looked at her still unsure of the new man "It's ok" she promised
Jamie looked at Ben then a smile appeared on his face "I'm Jamie" Ben laughed "I'm Ben, nice to meet you" he shook the little boys hand and for the first time was able to get a good look at him.
'Green eyes' Ben thought to himself 'Nah don't even go there'
Sam noticed how Ben was looking at the little boy and how Max was getting a little uncomfortable so she cut in, lifting Jamie from his mother's arms she said "Why don't we get you food?" she asked her nephew
"Yeah!" Jamie said enthusiastically
Sam walked out with Jamie leaving Ben and Max alone.
There was silence again and this time it wasn't comfortable. Ben cleared his throat and broke the silence "So…" Max looked at him waiting on the question she hoped he wouldn't ask she didn't want to lie to him.
"You're a mum?" he asked park question part statement.
"I am"
"How did that happen?"
Max lifted her eyebrows and Ben shook his head "I know how it happens but how did it happen to you?"
Max thought about it for a second she really wasn't sure how to answer the question.
"Is he…" Ben started to ask but Max cut him off "No!" Ben continued "Your fiancé's?" he finished.
"Oh, uh no" Max said before turning around and looking in the closet again.
Ben nodded his head and walked out the room in search of Sam all the time thinking to himself.
'What did she think I was going to ask? If he was Alec's? He can't be can he?'
Ben was making his way down the hall when Sam walked out the living room and bumped into him, she cornered him.
"What are you playing at?" She asked pushing him against the wall.
Ben's face twisted in confusion "What do you mean?"
"Asking her to be your date hasn't he hurt her enough?" She spat
"He hurt her?" he said anger evident "He's not the one that moved away and didn't tell her"
"Whatever" Sam said brushing it off"You look good" She said seductively "Much better than last time" she winked and walked away towards the bedroom where Max currently was picking up a bag in her way.
Walking into the bedroom she found Max sitting on the bed "What's up?" Sam asked bending down in front of her sister.
"What am I doing?" Max asked.
"Going to party" Sam reminded her.
Max stood up and walked to her window looking out she watched the rain fall, turning around she looked at Sam "I'm not going to go"
"Why?"
"He's probably already worked it out" Max said
"Ben isn't that smart plus just tell him he's Logan's" Sam offered
"I'm not going to lie not about him, I never wanted to lie in the first place" Max said as tears formed in her eyes.
"Suck it up" Sam said in a harsh tone and Max glared at her "Your going to this party and your going to knock them all dead" Max scoffed "I have nothing to wear"
"Wrong!" Sam smiled and Max watched as she pulled out a dress.
It was a black floor one shouldered dress and Max loved it her eyes lit up as soon as she saw it.
"Wow" Was all she could say
"That's what Alec will be saying when he says it" She wriggled her eye brows suggestively and grinned.
"I'm not there to turn Alec on!" Max reprimanded her sister "It wouldn't hurt though"
About an hour later and it was 7.15 Ben was already dressed and wearing his suit. Sam had cooked for Jamie bathed him and got him ready for bed. Max was currently tucking him into bed.
"You look pretty mummy" he yawned sleepily and Max couldn't help but smile at him.
"Thank you baby" She whispered kissing him on the forehead as his eyes closed unable to fight sleep any longer.
She gently closed her sons' room door and made her way into the living room.
Ben and Sam were sitting on the sofa watching TV when she walked in they didn't hear her so she had to make her presence known.
"Ready" she startled them and they jumped up off the sofa.
Ben's jaw literally dropped when he looked at her and Sam whistled.
The dress with figure hugging tight and damn did she have a good figure her hair was up with just a few loose hairs hanging down and she just looked amazing.
"Wow" he said breathlessly and Sam slapped him on the chest "Hey!" he complained rubbing the sore spot on his chest.
"Do I look ok?" Max asked not feeling very confident.
"You look amazing" Sam promised as she walked them to the door.
"If he needs me call me" Max said, pointing at the room where her son currently slept.
"I've got it" Sam said confidently.
With that she closed the door and left them to there own devices.
Walking downstairs Max found a limo waiting on them "What's this?" Max said looking at him.
"Alec trying to be funny" Ben said
Max looked at him not understanding what he meant.
"He thinks I should impress my 'date'"
Max nodded finally getting it, Alec was always trying to set him up and whenever Ben did get a girlfriend Alec was always trying to 'help' him out.
They climbed in the car and neither of them spoke until they reached there destination.
The car stopped and Max began to get nervous "Does he know?" she asked unable to look at Ben
"No"
Max let out the breath she was holding "Maybe I shouldn't go in, I don't want to ruin his party"
Ben shook his head "You won't be he'll be happy to see you"
Max looked him "I doubt it"
Ben sighed and the driver opened the door for them to get out.
"Well he's going to have to get over it" he said as he slid himself out the car and held his hand out for her to take.
She took his hand and let him pull her out the car not sure she could actually do it without him.
She stepped out the car and looked around. They were standing outside the best hotel in Seattle.
"Why is he having it here?" She asked as she slipped her arm through Ben's.
Ben glanced at her "Rachel's father owns it" He said as he walked her through the doors.
"Rachel?"
"His fiancé" Ben said reluctantly.
Max nodded her name suddenly got stuck in her throat. Ben noticed how quiet she was and spoke "Not a fan of that name?" he asked grinning at her.
She rolled her eyes "Not got a problem with it" she said sweetly and smiled.
"Ready?" he asked as they stood outside the hall.
Max could feel her heartbeat increase and her hands suddenly became very hot and sweaty.
"As I'll ever be"
They walked into the hall and Max found him straight away he was standing in the middle of the room his hand on a woman's back, the woman Max guessed to be Rachel.
Ben noticed her looking at a particular spot on the floor and followed her eyes.
"You always could find him in a crowd of people" Max blushed and looked around she spotted the bar not 5 feet from them, Ben started to walk in the direction of his brother but Max's hand on his arm stopped him he looked at her wondering what was up.
"I need a drink" she stated as she pulled him towards the bar.
She walked a little in front of him and Ben followed but he was stopped by a guy.
"Ben" Ben stopped and looked around it was Biggs, Alec's best friend
"Where's your date?" Biggs asked looking around for her.
"Why?"
"Alec wants to meet her you know what he's like"
Ben nodded keeping his eyes on Max who was now at the bar and throwing back some clear liquid that was in a shot class, he looked away 'Please don't get drunk' he thought to himself, Biggs voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"So…Where is she?"
The side of Ben's mouth curled up into a smile and he pointed at the bar.
"Right there"
Biggs looked around just as Max turned her face to the side and Biggs got a clear view.
"Tell me that's Sam" Biggs said already knowing the answer.
"Nope"
Biggs looked at Ben who was smirking "I hope you know what your doing" with that he walked away.
Ben watched him walk away and joined Max at the bar "don't get drunk" he said to her giving her a serious look. "Wouldn't dream of it"
They stood at the bar for the next ten minutes both Max and Ben really wanted to get this over with but neither one of them was prepared to tell the other. But the decision got taken out their hands when Ben felt a hand being slapped on his shoulder.
"Ben!" Max heard Alec's voice and she stopped, stopped breathing stopped moving stopped everything.
Ben's shoulders tensed for a minute before facing his brother "Hey" he said casually
"Where's this date? Biggs thinks I should meet her" Alec said in a happy voice
"I bet he does" Ben said sarcastically Max heard him and stepped on his foot.
"So where is she?"
Max decided now was the time she turned around and announced her presence "Right here"
Alec froze he knew that voice, he'd know that voice anywhere.
He let his eyes move slowly from Ben to his date, hoping it was a mistake and he got it wrong.
He looked at her and swallowed the lump in his throat. 'She looks so good'
"Max" he said his voice barely above a whisper.
A/N - Tell me what you think!