Jason reluctantly went to the benefit. He was expertly dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, which would soon join the many others he had in his closet from his court dates. Maxie went to the boutique at the Metro Court and purchased him a light blue button-down shirt with a blue striped tie to bring out the brightness in his eyes, but also because it would match her dress. So even though they couldn't be together at the benefit, they would still look the part.

Jason couldn't have cared less but just the idea of it thrilled Maxie; which was enough for him.

He even posed for a few pictures with Carly, his eyes always finding Maxie's across the crowded ballroom, helping him to actually smile for the cameras. Sure Kate had scolded her when she spotted Jason but Maxie just ignored her uptight boss and continued on with her duties. Shamelessly promoting the magazine trying to down play the uncomfortable questions about the article, Kate of course loved the extra attention, knowing that Jason wouldn't comment on anything. It wasn't long before the event was winding down and Maxie was pleasantly standing on the terrace enjoying the crisp fresh air. After kissing up to potential investors she needed the break.

It was one of the first warmer days Port Charles had seen in a few weeks but she was grateful when Jason draped his jacket over her bare shoulders, before wrapping his arms around her middle.

"Thank you." She smiled continuing to look out over the Port Charles skyline. The metro court was one of the taller buildings just a clear shot at the tops of the buildings the hospitals helipad easily visible from where they stood. "So this wasn't so bad was it?"

"No, but it will be if Kate chooses any of those pictures of me." Jason smirked moving to stand next to her. "You ready to go home?"

"Home is so far away." Maxie smiled seductively as she leaned her head against his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his middle. "And you know we never did get to use that room at the metro court?"

"Are you suggesting we stay here in a room, instead of in our sound proof private apartment?" Jason asked not really caring whether they stayed in a hotel room or at the penthouse, more just enjoying his girlfriend's insatiable need for him.

"I'm not always that loud." Maxie laughed hitting his arm before stepping away from him. "Plus the penthouse doesn't have room service. So what do you say, let's go upstairs have some fun?"

Jason didn't have to think about it too hard. The couple walked hand in hand off the terrace and back inside where Kate and Carly were talking and making sure all the clearing and photography equipment made it back to the proper location. Lulu was nowhere in sight.

"Good Maxie you're still here." Kate smiled sinisterly as she spotted them enter the room.

"Actually we were just about to leave." Maxie tried to smile politely, her grip on Jason's arm tightened.

"Well, there is still much work to be done." Kate said looking over her list in hand actively avoiding Jason. Carly rolled her eyes at Kate and began to walk over towards the bar.

"Are you sure it can't wait until the morning?" Maxie said looking between Kate and Jason hoping for a miracle.

"Sure it can wait until the morning. You can come in and clean out your desk in the morning." Kate said as she started to walk away.

Maxie turned back to Jason with a knowing look. "I'm sorry." Reaching up on her tiptoes she grabbed hold of his loosened tie and pulling him to where her lips could reach his. "I'm sorry." Another kiss. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry I'm sorry." Each accompanied with a kiss. "You go home, get naked, and I will be there as soon as I possibly can." Another kiss.

"And if I happen to fall asleep?"

"Then I will happily wake you up."

"You better. Go hang out with the devil." Jason said kissing her once more before she gave him back his jacket and moved as quickly as her four inch heels would allow her. Jason just smirked and continued over towards the bar where Carly had a beer waiting for him.

"You lose the girlfriend to her career?" Carly smiled taking a sip of her water.

"Of course, I'm always losing her to the Prada devil on the 3rd floor."

"Did you just make a reference to the 'Devil Wears Prada"?"

"Maxie made me watch it one night." Jason explained. It hadn't been as horrible of a movie as he expected it too, and Maxie claimed it was exactly like a day in her life. "Shouldn't you be at home off your feet or something?"

"Jax is still out of town on business, but for your information I didn't leave the house until this event tonight." Carly smirked. Jason just sat quietly and drank his beer. "Thank you for coming tonight, I know how much you hate these things."

"I do, but I know this was really important to you."

"And to Maxie."

"Yeah well—" Jason said trying to avoid this conversation.

"I didn't understand why you and Maxie started dating; in fact I didn't believe it was even real. But you're here tonight, and not just because of me. I watched you tonight; your eyes never left that girl, no matter where she went." Carly said thoughtfully, she loved observing her best friend. What he didn't say in words he could usually hide with his facial expressions, but not from her.

"There's been some tension between myself and Kate; I was just keeping an eye on everyone's moods."

"Or the fact that you are head over heels for that girl." Carly smiled standing from the seat as Jason finished his beer. "And now you can drive me home."

"Sure." He smiled taking her arm to help his pregnant best friend to the door.

"And you can admit it anytime you like." Jason just turned to her wondering what she was referring too. "That you're in love with Maxie."

~*~

Maxie and Lulu both sat at their desks typing away trying to get as much done so that they could leave for the evening. There call time in the morning was at 9 am and it was nearing 2.

"This is just ridiculous. Why do these emails need to go out tonight? It's not like anyone is going to open these emails until tomorrow, even on the west coast!" Lulu spoke bitterly.

"Kate is just pissed and trying to prove a point because of the whole Jason thing." Maxie explained, Kate had gone back downstairs and was watching people finish the tearing down process. "She just needs to get over herself already." As Maxie finished her sentence the elevator dinged and Kate walked out hearing Maxie's final thoughts.

"Oh really Maxie?" Kate sneered. "I need to get over myself?"

"Kate—" Maxie started to apologize, she stood from her seat and turned to face Kate. "You know what, I'm not sorry you finally heard what I had to say. Ever since I got back from that club promotion in Manhattan you have been riding my ass about everything."

"I am your boss Maxie. It's my job to tell you what to do, not the other way around. That's how things work in this business."

"Really being a bitch is what got you this far?" Maxie yelled Lulu just sat back and watched the fight unfold. "I begged you for this job opportunity I have done everything you've asked for and it's never been good enough. So you know what—"

"You're fired." Kate interjected. "Clean out your desk. Lulu tomorrow you will be first assistant, we'll start the interviewing process in the morning." She said before walking into her office making sure to shut the door with extra force.

Maxie silently just went about cleaning the rest of her desk off. Putting into a box that was always sitting just underneath the desk, Kate had a tendency threaten firing at least once a week.

"Maxie are you seriously just going to let it go like that?" Lulu asked standing from her desk and moving towards Maxie. Fashion was Maxie's oxygen and she was just giving it up.

"I'm cannot work for that woman anymore." Maxie said putting the last of her personal items in the box. "You'll be fine, just don't have an original thought and you'll be fine." Maxie smiled trying to joke about the situation.

"What are you going to do?"

"I'll put a call in to Fredorico. I have connections in Manhattan outside of Crimson now. Sure Kate could destroy my career but other people know how she really is." Maxie smiled moving towards the elevator. "Good luck Lulu you're going to need it."

~*~

Maxie smiled politely at the guard posted in the lobby as she entered the elevator pushing the button for the penthouse floor. She had yet to shed any tears over the loss of her job, and she didn't intend too. Kate Howard, regardless of how wonderful and in demand she was, wasn't worth the stress and sleepless night she was putting her through. The only sleepless nights Maxie was looking for involved her naked boyfriend who was hopefully still awake and waiting for her.

"I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow morning." Jason said leaning against the headboard, the sheet laying across his body riding low on his hips. He had a stack of papers, she could only assume were from the warehouses.

"I kinda got fired." Maxie said moving towards the chair in the corner of the room to set her purse down, and then take off her shoes. "Well, kinda fired kinda quit. It's about a fifty-fifty split."

"Wait what?" Jason said shocked. He set the papers on the bedside table following her towards the bathroom.

"Kate was going on about something, and I just got fed up with all the crap she had us doing. So I was in the process of telling her off and quitting when she fired me." Maxie explained standing in front of the sink. After her second attempt of unzipping her dress Jason stepped behind her taking care of the task, leaving her in just the corset and slip. She was about to wash her face when Jason pulled her towards him making her stop avoidance technique.

"Are you okay?" He flat out asked her, knowing how attached Maxie was to her job.

"It's a major setback in my career, but I don't need Kate Howard to get to where I want to go." Maxie said truly sounding optimistic. "I'm fine Jason, I just want to get out of this stupid corset and shower and get to sleep.

"I think I can help you with that." Jason smirked letting her turn back towards the mirror as he began to untie the dresses corset, freeing her from the binding material. "You Maxie are talented, amazing, and determined." Jason said bestowing a few kisses on the delicate skin of her collarbone moving towards her neck. "If anyone can make something good come of this situation it'll be you."

~*~

Jason was exhausted by the time they finished either round two or three; everything just flowed together for them. The mob enforcer could go on stake outs for days, fight multiple assailants at once; but dealing with people on a social setting was not one of his strengths. Watching Jason's eyes slowly rolled closed, Maxie offered to take care of the condom before she went to shower.

"Sleep well, babe." Maxie smiled before giving him a light kiss.

"Come back soon."

Grabbing a few Kleenex's out of the box she took the condom before passing Jason the box itself and leaving the bedroom for the shower. It wasn't until she was further wrapping the condom into the Kleenex that she noticed a small but substantial rip along the side. Meaning that there practice in safe sex—hadn't been all that safe.

Throwing away the offending object Maxie turned the shower as hot as she could stand before stepping in letting the scalding water distract her from the possible predicament. She tried to slow her initial freak out by trying to rational think this through; Maxie was religious about taking her birth control. Every morning before she put on her make-up her pill was always popped.

Always.

98% effective. So there was a 2% chance that she could be on her way to getting pregnant. The odds usually never worked in her favor but this was something she doubted she really had to worry about.

Or at least not worry Jason about until there was actually a something to worry about.

hope you enjoyed. reviews are always appriciated!