This is short....and....If I were to title chapters...this one would be called "Two Steps Forward..."

Chapter 7

Agent Damien Spinelli pulled into the driveway to surprise the love of his life. His Maximista. The woman he desired above all others. He also wanted to spend some life rejuvenating time with his true master. Not the ones that wished to control his life at the agency. No he was trying hard to live without Jason and Maxie but it was harder than he ever imagined.

He had finally cracked the high profile case. He was given the reward of a weekend off. However, to the agency, that only meant Saturday and Sunday. The earliest flight he could get to Tampa from Washington DC was a late afternoon one and he had to fly back the next day mid afternoon again. However, twenty four hours with The Blond One was more than he'd had in months so it was better than nothing.

He remembered that Fair Maximista said she and Jason were to attend a wedding but it was almost ten at night. Surely they should have been home by now. Spinelli decided to go to the corner store for some Spinelli style nourishments. Surely, they would not -have BBQ chips and Orange soda on hand for him when they didn't even know he was coming.

Denny was on the computer checking e-mail when she noticed the nerdy college kid that talked weird. She thought that was over. "Dale...that weird Spinster kid is back again and this time...well shoot...he brought flowers this time." She yelled from their den to the living room and her husband mumbled from his recliner something incoherent as he checked the sports scores on ESPN.

She had hoped that the strange man was out of the picture even though Hannah had indicated that Maxie's college boyfriend wasn't. Tonight had been a breakthrough. Even though she had wanted Maxie to originally find romance with her grandson, she knew that Jason and Maxie were already falling in love with each other. They just needed a little push in the right direction.

And she was the Fairy Godmother to do the pushing.

Anything for love.

She'd done such a good job at the wedding. When she and Dale left, the two were still on the dance floor oblivious to anything happening around them. They didn't even know the older couple had left.

But this weird out of towner would ruin all of her hard work and their forward progress.

Denny picked up her phone and called her granddaughter. "Hannah?...Hi honey. No, we're fine...Honey, I know it's late and your Papa and I are just fine. We got home about thirty minutes ago... Oh it was nice enough. Hannah listen, you and I need to work on a project together. Why don't you come over tomorrow for lunch and we'll talk. Nana has an idea and she needs your help."

~%~%~%~%~%~

Jason and Maxie danced together the rest of the night. She was surprised at how light on his feet Jason truly was. And even more shocking was that he was actually spinning her around the dance floor as opposed to just swaying from left to right or doing the awkward box step over and over. He was charming and attentive and Maxie was having the best time since...she honestly could not remember when.

When he noticed she was grimacing and her feet kept making her groan, he walked her to their table and lifted each foot into his lap to rub them under the table. Maxie was touched by his concern and sincerity. Their silence was easy both deep in their own thoughts. Jason's being filled with "What If's" and Maxie's imagining the rough fingertips of the man who was currently massaging her toes running up her legs or down her arms or across her torso.

"Jimmy Choo looks good but doesn't always feel good." she smiled awkwardly when their eyes met.

Jason was surprised as he nodded his understanding. He actually knew who Jimmy Choo was...or at least that she meant her shoes.

When the Bride and Groom finally left the reception at nine forty-five the two quickly made their way through to thank Jason's boss and his wife. Then Jason went over and tipped the band a fifty because he enjoyed their music while Maxie was cradled in his arms. They strolled out of the banquet room at the posh country club. Maxie's arm threaded through Jason's. Jason's tie sticking out of his coat pocket with the top three buttons undone to his dress shirt and both hands shoved in his pockets.

As they waited for the valet to bring their car around, Maxie leaned her head on Jason's shoulder and let out another sigh.

"What's the matter?" Jason asked nervously.

He knew what he wanted her to say but also knew that honestly, it was the LAST thing he really wanted to hear. He was so confused over his newly discovered feelings. He wanted to hear her say that she was feeling the same way he was but then...he wasn't positive that he actually knew what he was feeling.

What he did know was that he had a wonderful night with Maxie and that several times throughout the night he was almost ready to bend down and kiss her. An idea that also terrified the hell out of him which is why he hadn't followed through with the impulses when they came.

What was he thinking? Since when did he ever want to do anything with Maxie. Much less want to press his lips against hers in a display of passion.

But that was exactly how he felt. And he wasn't sure he was okay with that.

What if he went with his instincts and she rebuffed his advances? He had to think about his kids, his life, her life. They wouldn't be able to just turn around and act like it never happened and she certainly could not leave. At least not now. He and the boys needed her.

He needed her. When did that happen?

But what if she wanted it? What if she reacted positively to his advances?

Would they try to build a relationship that was romantic? Could they? Would it ever work?

She was twelve years younger than him. Which normally should not mean too terribly much at their age but Maxie was incredibly immature for her nearly twenty five years. At least she used to be. She'd changed so much in the past six months since they had been in Florida. If he were honest with himself she had started to change, grow up and be less selfish after Georgie died. And she really changed when they first left Port Charles. Mostly where the kids were concerned.

Yet lately she was really coming in to her own. Becoming her own woman. A career minded business owner. Happy, at least he thought she was. Mellow, well...as mellow as was possible where Maxie was concerned. Exasperating but he thrived on it and had to admit he antagonized it on many occasions just for fun. And a wonderful caregiver to his two children.

She was also a loving friend to Hannah. She had learned her lessons with her old friends like Lulu and Brooklyn and probably even Sam and Spinelli. She didn't use Hannah the way she used to use her other friends. She was still controlling but Jason figured it had more to do with Maxie being so outgoing and Hannah being so shy.

And because of this, he had so many questions.

Jason had to admit to himself his own faults. He was never good at going after what he wanted. At least when it came to women. He never pursued. He always just seemed to make sure he was there until the woman realized she wanted what he wanted and did it for him.

And he was stubborn beyond all reason. And silent. He had a hard time with words so he didn't use them. Therefore he never was the one to make the first move.

With Robin, he actually did technically make the first move but then after she reacted the way she did on the bridge accusing him of using her as a death wish 'kissing the girl with HIV', Jason waited for her to tell him she wanted him to kiss her the next time. Which was probably why he'd been that way ever since. Loving Robin was easy. It was an unconscious action like breathing in air. At least it was in the beginning when things were simple.

Carly was easy literally. He didn't have to do anything but plunk down a quarter to play some pool and she practically sprawled herself on the table, his for the taking. If he looked back, that was honestly the most real and open relationship he had ever had. At least from his standpoint. He never told Robin about Carly until it was over so that wasn't really honest but he didn't really understand what he was doing and who it could hurt and he never led Carly on. She knew what he wanted and she willingly gave it to him. It was simply sex.

Courtney and Sam were neither simple or easy. They were both so much work it eventually destroyed the love he felt for either woman. Neither started off on good footing. He was babysitting Courtney while she stripped, his best friend's sister and his brother's wife. He couldn't even put a finger on why or when it happened. He just loved her one day. And then one day he didn't. It was the same way with Sam. Honestly had he not become so attached to the idea of raising her and Sonny's daughter with her, he didn't think he would have fallen in love with her. And while it was good, it was incredible. But Sam was her own worst enemy. Never trusting herself enough and always destroying herself before someone else could. Eventually she redeemed herself for her crimes.

But the one he could never get past though was that she watched his son taken.

Then there was Elizabeth. The impossible dream.

Where would Maxie fall in his short list of experiences. The easiness and innocence of Carly and Robin. Or the angst, us against the world but never quite enough relationships he had with Sam and Courtney.

He knew it wasn't possible for her to fall into a category with Elizabeth. They were total opposites in character. Elizabeth always put others before her own feelings and Maxie rarely even considered others feelings when it came to what she wanted.

But then that was the old Maxie. Maxie Jones of Port Charles. Not Maxie Webster of Largo.

Maxie interrupted his thoughts, "Jason?"

"Yyyyes..." he hesitantly replied.

"I really had a great night." She shuffled next to him, alternating from hugging his arm and pulling back letting her arm fall loose within the cradle of his elbow.

"I did too Maxie." He said placing his hand over hers on his arm and squeezing.

She smiled up at him, her eyes twinkling and a big smile spreading across her face. He looked down at her and realized how beautiful she was. It was like he had never seen her before.

He studied her eyes, so brilliant blue that the clearest ocean waters barely compared. Her pert little nose that turned up slightly at the end. There were a few freckles across her nose and cheeks that were barely perceptible if you weren't really close and studying her. Her mouth was slender and perfectly shaped with the bottom lip being fuller and luscious. The soft pink lip gloss barely differing from the true color of her lips natural hue. Her strong chin and angular face that had rounded a bit. She had put on probably ten pounds since they finally settled in their home and she looked much better with the added weight. He had been worried at first but she looked a healthier thin now instead of near drawn and frail and bordering anorexic which was honestly a true concern when they had first started on their journey together.

She had a face that any man would consider himself in heaven to wake up to every day. And being honest with himself, she looked DAMN HOT in a bikini or anything else she put on over her feminine curves. Like the drop dead gorgeous dress she had on now, hugging her body like a glove.

"Do you think?...I mean...would you be willing?...never mind...I'm being stupid." she lowered her head and studied her feet.

Jason removed his hand from on top of hers and used his index finger to lift her chin turning slightly to face her. Finally locking eyes with hers again he smiled. "Say it. I'm...it's not stupid."

He hoped he was right about what she wanted to say.

"Well...would you ever want to do this again?" And he was right.

She shook her head and closed her eyes and before he could reply she rambled on. "I mean...that's stupid...we go do things all the time. I mean just the other day we went with Billy and Hannah to that new restaurant. And we are always doing stuff with the kids...it's just..."

"It was really nice just you and me. Just the two of us...out...on a...a...date." Jason offered for her.

Her head shot up and her eyes narrowed as if she was trying to see inside his brain before she responded. Then her eyes grew wide when the realization of what he had just said truly sunk in.

"Yeah" she sighed nodding her head furiously as her bones in her body became jelly under her skin and she practically melted into his side. The butterflies had taken flight and she was in that indescribable place when you are so excited and so scared you aren't sure whether you should leap into his arms or run to throw up somewhere.

Jason took advantage of the situation and quickly pulled his other hand from his pocket and wrapped it around her waist pulling her body to his. His voice was hoarse and sultry. "I think we should definitely do this more often."

He looked down at her and she lifted her chin. His head inched lower to hers and she lifted herself up on her tip toes as far as she could. Her lips parted, partly in surprise but also in preparation and her tongue quickly darted out to moisten them. Jason's pupils eclipsed the blue as he watched the movement, desire stirring in every part of his body. Just as Jason reached up to cup her neck with his hand and close the distance between their lips the valet pulled up with their car and announced their car was ready.

Jason closed his eyes and sighed, tipping his head back silently asking the heavens 'Why?' as he untangled himself from Maxie. But he could not pull himself away from her completely so he took her hand in his and led her down the steps to the waiting car. He pulled a twenty out of his pocket to hand over to the valet even though he wanted to ram his fist down his throat and ask the teenager why he didn't see they were having a private moment and why he didn't drive around the block until it was over.

He helped Maxie into the car and then moved around to the drivers side and climbed in. He drove away missing the feel of Maxie in his arms and wondered...if he drove out to the beach could they recapture that moment or was it lost for good.

The twenty minute ride home was silent. Maxie had put her hand out in the center console, palm up. But Jason was too lost in his own thoughts and concentrating on driving to notice it and when he did, he moved to grab on to it. Hoping it was a gesture she was making to continue this. His hand was just seconds too late when she sighed and moved her hand to her lap, leaning her head against the window and staring out at the September night sky.

Jason mentally kicked himself for many reasons. He should have just kissed her. Screw the valet. He should have immediately grabbed her hand when he got into the car. He should have taken her up on her idea to have a limo so he wouldn't have to occupy his time with the mundane task of driving through the city streets on a Saturday night when he could be in the back seat with her in his arms. He should drive to the beach, tell her exactly what has been playing in his mind all night and pull her into his arms and never let her go again. Mostly, he was kicking himself because he was too chicken to do any of it.

Then when he pulled into their driveway and saw Spinelli, he knew how this ended. The chance...not taken. All the questions...unanswered. The moment...gone.

Spinelli was sitting on the back of a blue Pontiac rental car with a dozen roses for Maxie sitting next to him and a huge smile on his face. Jason didn't say a word when Maxie jumped from the car before it was even stopped moving. He watched as she was screaming the younger man's name and launching herself into his arms. Jason bit his lip and gripped the steering wheel as the two held each other, happy to be touching. His eyes grew cold when he watched Spinelli lean in and place a chaste kiss on Maxie's lips.

He threw the car into reverse and headed for the nearest bar.

He wanted to get away. The bucket of cold water that was Spinelli sitting there and Maxie's reaction to him was a wake up call. It was time to find himself a life of his own.

~%~%~%~%~

Jason woke up in a motel room with a warm body next to him. He groaned as he extricated himself from Jenny...no Janet...Janice?

Shit!

He couldn't even remember the name of the woman he was in bed with. The last time that happened was...Carly but then he never learned her name the night before.

He looked back at the woman. Oddly, the first thing he noticed as the haze of the scotch was wearing off by a few hours of sleep, was that the woman couldn't be more than twenty five, had blond hair was tiny and had been wearing a light blue dress. A dress that was draped over the desk chair at the moment.

He was willing to bet money that the girls voice was two octaves higher than a normal female voice and her eyes were blue.

What the fuck was he thinking?

He pulled on his suit pants and white undershirt. He checked for his wallet and keys in his coat pocket and even went so far as to check to see that most of his money was still there although he didn't figure that the girl would rob him and then climb naked back into bed with him.

Besides, he remembered everything. Well...almost everything and he was pretty sure her name was Janine.

The sex was okay. He used three condoms but the first one didn't really count because the first round was embarrassingly quick. They had barely made it into the motel room that was located next to the bar on the beach where he ended up. He remembered the old man grousing at him and Janelle...Janey?... When they knocked on his door at five minutes to two the old man nearly told them to leave. Until the man saw the cash Jason was holding in his hand. His worn red robe barely closed over his overstuffed belly and then Jason caught the old man leering and drooling over the beautiful blond on his arm once he woke enough to notice her.

Jane...yeah Jane wanted to go back to her place but Jason didn't want to become that intimate. He wanted the capability of doing exactly what he was doing now. Sneaking out while she slept at five o'clock in the morning and walking across the street to the bar to get into his car...well Maxie's car...and drive home to sleep the rest of the liquor off in his own bed.

He owed Spinelli an apology for not even bothering to say hello to his longtime friend and former roommate. But at the time, it was the best course of action. There was no way he could sit there and see the two young lovers paw and pet each other.

Not when he wanted to be the one pawing and petting Maxie instead of his friend.

As he drove home he knew that it was for the best. It was better that the kiss never happened. Now they could just chalk last night up as a little too much emotion from the wedding and move on with their lives like normal.

But as he walked in the door and saw Spinelli asleep on the couch and then saw Maxie practically sprint from her room when she heard him pull up, wearing a pair of boring pajama shorts and a too big AC/DC t-shirt, suddenly not everything that happened or didn't happen last night was for the best.

"I was worried about you." Maxie whispered as she moved to the kitchen.

"What are you doing up?" He asked in hushed tones. Neither wanted to wake Spinelli.

"Jake..." she saw his head snap and quickly eased his mind "No...I woke up about fifteen minutes ago...at five...when Jake wakes up. I guess I'm just used to it by now."

"Oh..."Jason moved to the cabinet and pulled the aspirin bottle down from the cabinet where they kept odds and ends like medicine, tea bags and travel coffee mugs. "What's Spinelli doing on the couch?"

Avoiding his question for now she turned to hand him the glass of water she had just poured from the Britta water pitcher on the counter. She handed it to him flicking her eyes up to his. Their eyes held for a long moment and then he slowly popped the two pills into his mouth and took a large sip of the water. He tilted his head back to swallow the pills down and heard her gasp. His head snapped down to lock eyes with her and he watched as her eyes narrowed. She reached up without taking her eyes off of him and turned on the light switch to the kitchen. As soon as the lights brightened the room her hand moved toward him. More specifically his neck just at his collar bone.

His eyes narrowed and his brows furrowed as she ran her fingers over his collar bone her eyes burning a hole into the spot she was touching. Then he watched as if it were in slow motion as her eyes perused the rest of his body finally landing on another spot, on his shoulder. Her eyes watered and she pulled her hand away from his so fast it was as if his skin had burned her. He stood there motionless and clueless as well as she tore around him sobs being clearly heard and then the slamming of her door. He looked out toward the living room and watched as Spinelli barely stirred at the noise and then rolled over, hugging one of the pillows to his chest and mumbling incoherently.

He had no idea what that was about but obviously there was something behind the fact that Maxie was near tears and Spinelli was on the couch. He moved to his bedroom and went to put on some sleep shorts when he noticed it in his dresser mirror.

The very spot that Maxie had touched on his neck was a nice reddish purple hickey and on his shoulder were four perfectly manicured half moons where Jenny...no...Jane...no...the woman he slept with had grabbed on to his shoulder and dug in to keep from falling off the bed last night.

"FUCK!"

Like I said...the title to this chapter would be "Two Steps Forward"....

And at the end...I would so write... "three steps back!!!! UGH!!!!" please don't hate the writer.