Chloe's chest rose as she took another breath and Max refused to look away. It had taken so long to get to the point where she could admit her interest, after all, she wasn't just going to waste any more time refusing to notice. Chloe's breasts were almost as small as hers, but as she watched their rise and fall Max found herself not having the slightest problem with that.

Weren't small boobs supposed to be less appealing? That was certainly what she had always heard. Or maybe that was just a guy thing and lesbians were different?

Dog, I have so much to learn. Well, guess I better keep perving on Chloe. For my education.

Max shifted in her seat by Chloe's side, watching her sleep in the early morning light coming in through the window. The young punk was lying back with the blankets pushed down to her waist, leaving her chest covered only by a hospital gown. It was a far from flattering garment, but it was fairly thin and flimsy, leaving the outline of Chloe's modest breasts clear for Max's newfound enjoyment.

The photographer longed for her camera, but she had learned it had been destroyed during the struggle in the bathroom. Her cell phone's camera would never be worthy of capturing the peaceful, utterly unguarded expression on Chloe's sleeping face. The gentle smile, the uncreased brow. Was it the simple relaxation of sleep or had their newfound intimacy played a part in smoothing away the rage and pain that had made a habit of marring Chloe's beauty?

Max blushed at her own ridiculousness.

Yeah Max, you fixed her with your magic kisses. Because you are just that good, even without silly things like experience or any idea what you are doing.

She went back to examining Chloe's body, a much better thing to blush over. This time casting her mind back, to the soft blue glow of heated water along the lines and curves now hidden from her. The smell of chlorine, the rush racing through her in response to a flirtatious smile and the glint of Chloe's navel piercing. Max idly wondered if Chloe had any other piercings. She was such a badass punk now, it would be so like her to get her nipples –

"Horny, or just curious?"

Max almost fell out of her chair.

"H-how did you know exactly what I was….actually, both I guess, no wait I mean….good morning?"

Chloe's grin was as smug as ever, her eyes sparkling with triumph.

"Dude you were practically drooling while staring at my tits. Doesn't take a mind reader."

Max could really only think of one way to deal with such an excess of smug. Leaning forward, she ran one hand through azure locks as the other took Chloe by the chin and tilted her head. Max's lips met Chloe's in a kiss, slow deep and gentle. When she pulled away the expression on Chloe's face could only really be called goofy delight.

"Damn," she whispered. "Girl could get used to waking up to this."

"Even with my gross morning breath?"

"Even with, Morning Max, even with. So I get why you were horny, who wouldn't get worked up at the sight of me in this sweet ass gown, but what were you curious about? You saw pretty much everything at the pool."

"I, I was wondering….if I mean curious about….uhm…"

Chloe's smile was downright predatory now. "What was it you said about complete honesty again, Max?"

Fuck.

"Ugh. Fucking….ugh. Okay I was wondering if…..uhm. Okay I got to thinking about…the pool and, and your navel so I thought that maybe….."

"Max, deep breaths. Unless you think you might need mouth to mouth?"

The photographer did her best to centre herself, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath before continuing.

"Thinking about your navel piercing made me wonder if…..you had other piercings as well."

"Yeah Max, of course I do."

Chloe's eyes were sparkling with mischief but Max sat up in excitement anyway.

"Really!?"

"Duh, we pierced each others ears when we were kids. Pay attention Max."

"Oh fuck you," Max laughed.

"Sorry, sorry, I had to! You wanna know if I got my nips pierced, right? One way for you to find out, Mad Max."

Chloe reached to the hem of her gown, grabbing it and beginning to pull as she winked at Max, whose eyes widened.

She would do it, Max knew. All she had to do was ask, or hell even just nod, and Chloe would bare it all for her. Chloe was far from modest, but it was still a big deal for Max. Aside from some furtive internet searches, more about satisfying curiosity then gratification, the only person she had seen naked was herself. And seeing her new girlfriend nude was wildly different from glaring at herself in the mirror with a mix of despair and frustration.

"Maaaaaaax? Earth to Caulfield? Wake up dude, you didn't even notice your phone going off. As cool as your ultra sensitivity to teasing is, I would rather chat then watch you drool. Actually scratch that, the drooling over me thing is pretty hot."

Max shook herself out of her stupor. "Sorry Chloe, I don't think im….ready for that."

"Oh shit dude, I didn't mean to pressure I just…you have the cutest fucking blush. I don't want to push too hard and make you uncomfortable, Max."

"It's okay Chloe. I actually…I actually like when you push. You always know where the line is and where the real line is. How to….to make it new and exciting and a little bit dangerous without it being dangerous. You always take me exactly far enough out of my comfort zone, I guess. So don't…..don't stop taking your flirting that little bit too far."

Chloe was uncharacteristically calm and contemplative. "Dude you….really trust me, don't you?"

"Yeah Chloe, of course." Max couldn't keep the confusion off her face.

"It's just…having someone take flirting or attraction too far when you don't have a shitload of trust is…hella scary actually. Happened with the dude I lost my virginity to. Went fell creeper. But uh, we, we were talking about my nipples, weren't we? Way cooler subject. So…Nope. Afraid I never got 'em pierced. Although after seeing how into the idea you are I totally fucking will. Who fucking thought nerdy little Max would be so into that."

"Kinda…kinda a surprise to me too Chloe. I didn't even fucking know I was into girls until yesterday. I…..barely have any idea what I like. Sorry, I know it can't be easy dating someone who doesn't have their shit figured out."

"Oh fuck that, experimenting with you is gonna be hella fun. We are gonna try out every fucking thing either of us can think of, no matter how kinky or messed up, then we are going to the internet to find out what we missed. It's gonna be fucking awesome."

Max bit her lip and looked away, trying not to smile.

"Yeah," Chloe muttered with a grin. "There's that blush I was talking about."

After managing to pull herself away from flirting with Chloe, Max finally checked her phone and found a message from Juliet.

JULIET: Max, I did some digging!

JULIET: Another student submitted your entry for the contest.

JULIET: They said it was against the rules and normally wouldn't be allowed, but apparently the student said you finally took your contest entry photo right before the shooting and didn't get the chance to submit it yourself.

JULIET: So under the circumstances they allowed it.

JULIET: If you aren't going to bend the rules of the Everyday Hero's contest for an actual hero then what is the fucking point, right?

ME: Wow Juliet, thank you so much.

ME: Do you know who it was?

JULIET: Sorry Max, everyone is being so tight lipped!

JULIET: Will keep digging and update you later!

Max sighed and passed her phone to Chloe, fidgeting impatiently as the other girl read.

"So, more mysterious bullshit. Do we have any theories why someone is submitting your work and fucking us out of having our fallback photo?"

"Chloe, there is no fucking way I am using that picture again. Nobody but you knows about my powers, so it can't be an attempt to deny us that option. Besides if that was the plan this is a pretty fucking roundabout way of accomplishing it. Why not just burn or rip or hide it? I think whoever submitted it just…wanted my work out there. Maybe they were doing me a favour?"

The punk frowned. "What if it was you?"

Max scratched her head.

"Think about it, timebabe. You keep pulling new powers out of your cute little ass. Something mysterious benefitting you, with an unidentifiable culprit? Im thinking time shenanigans."

"That's….I mean, maybe? It's kinda fucked up that time travel has become our default assumption when we don't have any information."

"Hey, Super Max, that's all on you. You are the complete badass who keeps kicking reality in the balls until it gives you what you want. So hot, by the way. Oh shit, we need to design you a superhero costume. Im thinking spandex. Nice, tight, spandex. Hot pink, of course."

"Ew, no, I would rather fight crime naked."

"Holy shit, that would backfire so hard. People would be rioting just to get you to show up."

Max rolled her eyes. "Yeah right."

"I would be rioting just to get you to show up."

It took an obscene amount of effort for Max to not melt into a gibbering puddle of anxiety as she waited for her parents. Chloe had been doing her best to help.

"Max you don't….you don't have to come out." She grit her teeth "It's fine."

"Chloe, I know it's not. And I won't hide you. I love you, what we have, even if it is new. I….I'm not coming out to everyone right away but my parents….they deserve the truth. They have always been cool it….it shouldn't go too bad."

"Especially with you in the hospital. Gotta milk that brush with death before they get complacent."

"How did you come out to Joyce?"

"I kinda didn't," Chloe shrugged. "I just didn't bother hiding it. She got the idea eventually."

"Are you shitting me? You just…gayed the place up and hoped for the best?" Max giggled.

"Yeah girl," Chloe's trademark smirk was firmly in place. "We could do the same. Just have your parents walk in on me eating you out and bam, closet burned to the ground."

"Chloe!" Max's blush threatened to ignite her hair.

"Put's things in perspective though, doesn't it? Compared to that a little chat is nothing."

"I…..guess it does. Thank you, Chloe, for your incredibly inappropriate help."

"You aren't gonna…..thank me properly?" That damn grin was still there, matched now by the mischievous glint in her eyes.

Max stood and made her way over to the punk, slipping onto the bed. She reached forward, one hand on each side of Chloe's face and pulled her into a kiss.

Chloe wasted no time deepening the kiss, one hand on the small of Max's back and the other moving up her thigh. She started slipped her tongue into Max's mouth and…..completely failed to notice the doorknob turning.

They didn't pull apart when the door opened. It wasn't until the startled gasp and muttered "What the fuck!" That they realized they had been interrupted.

Fortunately, it was only David, mouth gaping in shock as he stumbled back out and shut the door.

Chloe laughed so hard she started to have trouble breathing while Max squirmed in embarrassment.

"Shit dude, I wasn't serious about getting walked in on! Sorry Max, looks like the cat is out of the bag for sure now. Wait, no! The doe is out of the closet!"

Max rolled her eyes and rushed back to her own bed. There was no way now that she was going anywhere near Chloe before either of her own parents arrived. It was far too risky.

Fortunately, she didn't have to wait long.

Max beamed at her parents as they came in. They hadn't been perfect. Her father's work had taken her away from Chloe and then kept him from home and his lonely daughter far too many nights. Her mother's anxiety was even worse then her own, sometimes swallowing her up entirely and leaving her a nervous wreck.

But they had never been harsh with her. Never been cold or cruel, never let their anger get the better of them. They had always been warm and gentle and loving and oh so supportive. And god only knew how much money they had sacrificed indulging her analogue fetish.

Watching David abuse Chloe…seeing Nathan's madness and getting a glimpse of the role his father played in creating it…..Max had taken her doting parents for granted.

And now she might be about to lose her relationship with them.

As she gathered her nerve to begin, Ryan interrupted her.

"Honey, we need to talk about something. Something important."

Holy shit, they know!

Max and Chloe shared a tense look.

Ryan continued. "I didn't want to bring this up until I knew you were getting better but…..we need to talk about school, and your future."

Oh good they don't know. Wait, shit, that means I have to tell them.

"Huh? School?"

"After all that happened, Max, staying in Arcadia Bay…"

Panic stabbed through her and she sat up, eyes going back to Chloe. There was no way she was going to abandon-

Vanessa had no trouble picking up on Max's thoughts. "Chloe is more then welcome to come with us, for as long as poor Joyce is willing to give her up. I know how much being separated hurt you the first time."

Max's wince doubtlessly confused her mother. But she had to get it out. If her parents were opening their home to Chloe they needed to know the truth. And she was never going to get a better opportunity.

"A-Actually…about Chloe…..she…..we…uhm….."

Why does this always fucking happen to me?

Her mother blinked and shared a look with Ryan while Max collected herself.

"What is it honey?"

"Can we put aside the discussion about school for now? There is something important we need to talk about first."

Her father frowned.

Shit

"Something about you and Chloe?" He asked, voice low.

Vanessa shot him a look.

Oh god.

"Y-Yeah. Uhm. When I saw Chloe die – almost die, that is, it started me on this…this path to a realization. Seeing what she went through, discovering what I was willing to go through to keep her safe. The, the feeling I get now that we are reunited….the completeness."

Ryan made to speak only to be silenced by his wife's hand gesture.

"I realized I spent five years hiding from the way I felt. And I am fucking done. Everyone here deserves the truth, even me."

There was a faint roaring sound making it hard to hear her own voice and Max felt her vision narrowing as her hands shook.

"Mom, Dad," Max whispered. "Chloe isn't my friend. She is my girlfriend. Im….gay."

Chloe's hand was on her shoulder now, gentle and warm. Max fell into it without hesitation.

"Damnit." Her father muttered, heavy brows drawing into a scowl.

Someone dumped a bucket of ice water over her at the same time as they slapped her. And pushed her off a cliff.

"Ryan!" Vanessa's voice was a low, angry hiss Max had never heard before.

"What? You aren't the one out money over this."

"Yes I am you idiot, we share an account. Marriage, remember? But that's not the point. Forget your stupid bet with William, you are terrifying poor Max!"

Ryan looked to his panicking daughter.

"Oh. Oh shit, sweetheart you can't think…..I'm so sorry Max."

Her father rushed to fold her into a hug.

"This doesn't change how your mother or I feel about you in the slightest. I love you, Max. You will always be my little girl."

Max relaxed into the hug, finally feeling the tension drain away. Well, most of it. She wasn't just going to forget his painfully tonedeaf reaction. And Chloe wasn't going to let a reference to her own father pass without comment.

"What's this about a bet? With Dad?"

Vanessa sighed. "William was a very attentive father. And he spent so much time with the both of you together. Towards the, well, the end, he was convinced that there was something…more developing between you."

"What?" Chloe's voice was flat, as close to emotionless as the passionate punk ever got.

Yeah, what she said.

Ryan picked up the story. "At first we dismissed it as wishful thinking. The only person he would ever be comfortable giving Chloe away to was Max, after all. And, hah, it might have been the other way around too. With Chloe the only person good enough for Max. He loved you both so much. He could never convince me though, hence the bet. He bet that you two would, at the absolute least, experiment with each other. Most likely, though, he felt that the biggest delay in your relationship would be waiting for the marriage laws to catch up."

"Dad….knew? And he didn't…..didn't tell me?"

"Oh honey," Vanessa said gently. "He didn't want to pressure you – either of you. He was sure he would be there to help, once you were ready."

Chloe closed her eyes and sighed. "He knew. He knew and he didn't…didn't have an issue with it? didn't think…"

Ryan shook his head. "Chloe, William lived for you and Joyce. Children always idealize their parents, and growing to the point where they can see them as their own individuals with their own issues and failings is an important part of childhood. You are smart enough to have realized that, so im sure you have started to doubt your perception of your father. And while you definitely didn't have the full picture, the doting father you knew was absolutely the biggest part of who he was. If he could see you now he would be trying to pick out a tattoo that would match yours. William would have accepted you without hesitation. The minute you stepped a single toe out of the closet he would have been looking for a pride parade to take you to."

Chloe brushed the tears out of her eyes. "This was supposed to be about Max getting all this mushy acceptance shit, not me."

Vanessa smiled and put a hand on Chloe's shoulder. "Sweetie, I thought this whole conversation was about how you two are a package deal now? Now, her problems are your problems. Her "mushy acceptance shit" is your "mushy acceptance shit". Her uncomfortably long family hugs are your uncomfortably long family hugs."

"Heh, yeah I guess. And it's pretty nice – wait, hugs?"

"Yeah Chloe, hugs." Max whispered as she slipped her arms around Chloe. Vanessa was there a moment later, enfolding her in maternal affection. Chuckling, Ryan walked over and joined the family hug.

Hopelessly imprisoned in the Caulfield Cuddle Pile, Chloe smiled.

They were only half right. The hug was very long. But Chloe never found it the slightest bit uncomfortable.

"Yo mum," Chloe said through gritted teeth. "You got a minute?"

Joyce's voice was tense and frantic over the phone, slipping into panic instantly.

"Oh god are you and Max okay? I told you to stop pissing off the nurses! It might take me a while to get there since I can't get a ride from David. He was on his way over to see you! You could call him for help."

"Holy crap calm the shit down dude, this isn't a big thing. I do call you outside of emergencies."

"No, Chloe, you don't." There was something broken in her mothers voice, a weary emptiness developed by being ground down day after day after day.

"I fucking do! It - wait shit I don't wanna fight."

"What is this about then?"

"You probs already figured out because I was hella obvious even before dad died I guess. But im gay. Just….so fucking into chicks."

"Oh! Oh Chloe you are finally ready to talk to me about this?"

Chloe couldn't fight back the stab of guilt at how touched her mother sounded.

"Y-yeah mum. Sorry I haven't…"

"Oh Chloe, it's okay. I know how strained things have been between us…Although lately…I don't know if this is just wishful thinking, dear, but ever since the shooting and reuniting with Max I have got the impression that…."

Joyce sounded so…pathetically hopeful. Like a civil fucking conversation with her own child was winning the lottery. Chloe couldn't stand it for another second.

"I really miss having an actual relationship with my mother?"

"Yes…that was the hope."

"Yeah, well, im not gonna say I am done being a bratty bitch or anything but, like, maybe I can….be less of a bratty bitch."

"Chloe I…you have had your reasons, even when your behaviour has been…. All I want is to be a family, Chloe. If you would be willing…..I have been wanting to go to family counselling. All three of us. Me, you and David."

Chloe groaned. "It can't just be you and me? Fine, fine, I can…..put up with Step-soldier for a session or two but…don't expect me to be opening up with him there."

"All I ask is that you show up and put in an effort, Chloe."

"Cool. But, okay the reason I actually called and came out and all was because I have news."

"Yes?"

"Turns out Max is pretty fucking gay too. And now we….uhm. We are gonna be gay together. By going out. On dates. As girlfriends."

The silence on the other end of the line was getting more troubling with every passing second. There hadn't even been a shocked gasp or the clunk of a dropped phone. Chloe continued to stew until there was a loud pop followed by a very faint splashing.

"Are you…..what the fuck mum are you…..having champagne?!"

Chloe put her phone away as she returned to the hospital room.

"It took some doing Max, but I managed to convince mum to accept us going out."

Ryan stood, reaching into his pocket for his wallet.

"William would say that him dying doesn't get me out of having to pay. A bet is a bet, after all."

He pulled out fifty dollars, handing it to a surprised Chloe.

"It's either you or Joyce, and this way you can put it towards your first date with Max. William would have loved that, the clever bastard."

Chloe chuckled as she accepted the money.

"Five years dead and Dad is still looking out for me."

Max frowned and looked to her parents.

"Uhm…speaking of money. How much is this setting us back? I know medical care can be…obscenely expensive."

We have some money saved up, but I have been here two weeks now and had a dozen surgeries.

Ryan sighed. "Oh, we still haven't had that conversation, have we?"

Uh oh.

"Dude," Chloe interrupted. "Remember how Dana and Juliet mentioned that the Prescotts were in PR damage control mode, throwing money into everything they can think of which might make people like them?"

"Don't fucking tell me…."

Vanessa nodded. "Paying for your medical care is the least they can do after unleashing that monster on the world."

"Ugh, I think I'm gonna puke. We are really taking their money?"

"Money is money, Maximus. Pretty sure my broke-ass family would be bankrupted just paying for all the pudding I keep stealing."

"They paid for my surgery? That just makes me feel so…."

Violated.

"Max, the Prescott's downfall is guaranteed." Her fathers voice was calm, confident. "They are throwing their money around because it is the only move they have. This is just a death rattle. Us taking their money won't change that. It just means your college fund survives this."

"I know, Pop, I'm just…not as practical as you."

Chloe nodded. "Yeah, you are a total softie. Honestly I have been trying to think of it as us robbing them. We chose to go into that bathroom, after all. Now the Pisscock's are fucked, we are heroes with hella pudding and those fuckers are paying out the ass."

"Mmmmm. That kinda work. Thanks Chloe."

"No problem Max. Hey, there is this statue of some Prescott in a park not too far away. We could go deface it when you are feeling up for the trip?"

"Chloe, you always know what to say."

Vanessa slipped her arm around Ryan's as they left their daughter and her friend - her girlfriend to their flirtatious criminal plotting.

"Sorry for hushing you so many times, dear, but she had to say it herself."

"I did figure that out…..eventually." Her husband replied. "How long will I be paying for the "damnit" line, do you think?"

"Hard to say, she has changed so much. Back in Seattle she would have sulked for a week before putting together a photo collage to explain how she felt. But being with Chloe seems to agree with her. She communicates with words now, without needing to be prompted or anything!"

"She has certainly grown," Ryan agreed.

"There is one thing I don't understand, though."

"What's that, dear?"

"I thought your bets with William were always for five dollars?"

Ryan glanced down in that way he did when he was hoping his beard would hide his blush.

"Well," he muttered. "What the hell kind of date can you get with five dollars, even in this little town?"

Vanessa smiled and snuggled in closer to her husbands side.

AN: Finally a chance to upload this to . The site has been beyond uncooperative. This chapter was finished and uploaded to Ao3 almost a month ago. since then I haven't been able to log on here. Sorry for the wait and if anyone still gives a shit, thank you for reading!