Ch 14

Max couldn't stop thinking about the halloween party a few days ago. Before she could even talk to Terry, duty had called him. School kept her busy, and she was sure being Batman and being a college student kept Terry busy. She was concerned because she hadn't heard from him, and she wondered if what Nelson said had affected him.

It was the weekend, and Max had finished her assignments, deciding to head over to Terry's house. She hoped he was ok and was sure Bruce would call her if anything serious related to Batman had happened. Pulling up to his place, she parked, got out of the car, and locked it. Knocking on the door, she stood back as it opened.

"Max," smiled Miss. McGinnis, "it's good to see you come in."

"You to Miss. McGinnis. I was wondering if Terry was here. I haven't talked to him in days, and I—

"He's asleep in his room. He got back late last night from the library on campus. He's been studying really hard. I'm really proud of him."

Max smiled. "Yeah me to," she said, knowing there was something else going on.

"Well I'm sure my son will wake up eventually. You're more than welcome to stay and help me make lunch."

"I can try. I'm not much of a cook."

"You can always learn."

Once lunch was ready, Matt came down to eat and Terry was still asleep. Mary asked Max to wake him him up. Knocking on his door, Max heard something shift in the room, assuming it was Terry because he groaned.

"Max?"

"Wow, you look terrible McGinnis."

"Gee thanks," said Terry. "There's been a lot of crime in the past few days."

Max smiled. "It looks like it's kicking your butt."

"Did you just come by to hurt my feelings or—?"

"I uh was concerned about you. I haven't heard from you, so I came by to check if you were still alive."

"I'm sorry Max. I didn't mean to worry you. I'll call next time I promise, even if I am dead tired."

Max smirked. "That's all I ask," she said as he smiled at her before he hugged her. "I'm glad you're alive."

"Glad to see you to Max," he said as he felt her arms around his waist.

"You should probably shower. You stink."

After lunch Terry and Max decided to hit the arcade. They knew some things would change once they went to college, but the arcade would always be a constant in their lives no matter how old they got.

"So, any plans for Christmas?" asked Terry as they fought monsters in virtual reality.

"I don't know. Usually I just spend it at home by myself watching Christmas movies and sipping some sweet egg nog but knowing my family is staying in Gotham, who knows?"

"Oh that's right it will be the first Christmas with the Gibson family all together. Anyway I was hoping we could spend Christmas together with my family. Christmas Eve I have to go to a business party with Bruce."

"So Bruce is your date, huh?" she smiled.

"You know you could be my date Max."

"Well what's the purpose of this business party?"

"It's for charity. They're hoping to raise money for better care for kids that have been abused, and Bruce thought it was a worthy cause, so do I."

Max thought about her own abuse as a kid. "Count me in."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I mean I can relate."

"I'm proud of you Max. You're courageous," said Terry as he took off his virtual reality helmet.

Max took off her helmet and looked around to see the coast was clear. "Says the Batman."

"It comes with the job Max. What you've been through, I know most people couldn't come back from."

"I didn't think I'd make it either, but I had a lot to fight for," she smiled as Terry held her hand.

"I love you Max," he smiled as he found his arms around her again.

"I love you to McGinnis," she said as their faces became one in a kiss.

"Maybe we should take this somewhere more private," said Terry, noticing a lot of stares from people.

"You read my mind," Max said as they walked hand in hand out of the arcade.

It was a nice night as the couple sailed through the streets of Gotham on Terry's motorcycle. Max loved the wind on her face and feeling the warmth radiate from her boyfriend's back. She closed her eyes, held on tight, and enjoyed the ride to her place.

Terry heard her let out a sigh of contentment, and it made him smile. He couldn't remember ever feeling this happy to be with someone and feeling her arms wrapped around him made him feel powerful, like he could face anything. He speed up a little as her arms tighten around him.

The couple fell asleep on Max's couch from their intense make out session, but Max woke up. Looking at Terry, she knew she wanted more. She wondered what his real hesitation was and hoped it had nothing to do with her. She just had to know but as she looked at the man lying under her, she could see how tired he was and couldn't bare to wake him up. Lying back down, she let a sigh slip which she knew woke him up.

"Max, everything ok?" Terry asked before Max got off him and sat beside him on the couch.

"Why don't you really want to sleep with me Ter?" asked Max as she turned to face him.

"I'm trying to be the responsible one Max. There's too much at risk."

"You mean being Batman."

"That's part of it, but there's the risk of getting you pregnant. We're both in school right now and something like that could change our lives. I know you have dreams you want to make come true, and I don't want to stand in the way of them."

"You know there's something called birth control. We can be careful and god knows I don't want to get pregnant either," she said as she looked closer at Terry. "There's something else, isn't there?"

"How do you know that?"

Max smiled. "Women's intuition."

Terry smiled. "Somehow I knew you were going to say that," he sighed, "well the truth is I've never been with a woman in that way before."

"Wait a minute you and Dana never—

"She wanted to wait until we got married, and I respected that. We thought we would before being Batman came into the picture."

"That still doesn't explain anything McGinnis. You're still giving me excuses."

"I don't want to hurt you."

Max's eyes widened at his confession. "You're not him Terry. I want to be with you. You're not forcing me to do anything I don't want to do, and you never would."

"What if I trigger something you remember from the past? I don't want to traumatize you."

"Your touch is different from his Terry. Yours is warm, tender, and safe. He was cold, rough, and brutal."

"You have to promise me if something doesn't feels right, you will tell me."

"I promise," smiled Max as Terry squeezed her hand.

"I'm glad I can make you feel safe," he smiled before he got a call from Bruce, and he was off to protect the city of Gotham once again.

Max left for her bedroom to get some sleep before going back to the university in the morning.