We're still in 1.10 (that was a very Cookie/Malcolm/Lucious heavy ep). Next chapter it's getting goooood. Enjoy. J.

"You're late. That's a first." Jennings teased, as Malcolm walked into the security office with a tray full of coffees and donuts from Krispy Kreme.

"I know sorry," he set the food on the front desk "I come baring gifts."

The security men all crowded around grabbing their share and Malcolm chuckled shaking his head as he walked back to his office.

"Krispy Kreme seems a bit out of the way from where you live isn't it?"

Standing in his doorway Jennings gave him that look again and Malcolm sighed motioning him to close the door.

"You know where I was." Malcolm stated matter of factly.

"I do and more importantly I know who you were with."

"So…"

"So, do you have a death wish? She is your bosses ex wife, Mal. And not just any ex-wife, Lucious Lyon's ex wife."

"I know. I just. There's something about her." He sighed. Malcolm knew he was a dead man walking even trying to pursue a relationship with Cookie, but it found it to be worth it.

Jennings jabbed him in the arm playfully.

"That good eh?"

Malcolm laughed.

"It's crazy. I mean we haven't even had sex yet."

"What? You're lying. You've got to be lying there is no way you haven't smashed yet?"

"I swear. I mean, we haven't had sex yet."

"Ah, so she gave you a bite of the cookie not the whole thing just yet." Jennings laughed at his own joke earning a slight smile from Malcolm.

"Exactly."

"Well, when that day comes I hope she's worth it. He could kill you, you know? Without blinking twice. I mean look what he did to his own flesh and blood. The man has no morals, he's ruthless."

"Yeah, but I can hold my own too. Plus, she deserves better." Malcolm said masking the worry in his voice.

"I know, I know. Just watch your back okay? If anything goes down you know I got you, you're like a little brother to me, I don't want to see nothing happen to you over no ex-con with a fat ass."

Malcolm punched him a little harder in the shoulder.

"Hey!"

Jennings put his hands up in fake surrender laughing.

"I'm kidding!" He got up to leave Malcolm's office and stopped when his hand was turning the knob, a smirk on his face. "She does have a fat ass though."

Come to my office, let's talk.

Cookie looked down at her phone reading the message from Lucious again for the third time. What else could that man have to say to her? She frankly wasn't in the mood; she just finished seeing Lola and Olivia off and was brushed off by Jamal dismissively. She knew he was hurting, because she was too. Lucious wasn't though, everyone had come to say goodbye, even Andre and we was in a crazy hospital for God's sake. How could Lucious be so selfish, Lola was his child and the only thing he gave them in return was a half-assed check.

To: Lucious

Be there in a bit.

She was going to go, just to hear him out. To see if he could top the revelations made last night, just to amuse herself. She knew nothing would come out of that conversation. At least that's what she told herself to make her feel better. There was no doubt in her mind he prepared this well thought out speech about how much she meant to him and how he wanted to get back with her and how he would change and she would have believed him; if she were fresh out of prison.

Now, she'd been around for two months observing how the person she considered to be the love of her life treat those closest to him and it made her physically sick.

Plus, now she had Malcolm to consider and what started, as a playful flirtation was definitely more now. She wasn't sure what to make of her relationship with Malcolm but it wasn't just a fling for both of them. It was a real, living and breathing attraction that threatened to destroy anything in it's path. She felt silly how much she craved to be around him, yesterday she damn near got on her knees and begged him to stay with her. Ever the gentleman, Cookie thought recalling his reluctance to take off his clothes. Everything the man did was with careful consideration, out of respect for her, and she loved it.

Last night his wickedly skilled mouth sent euphoric waves through her that she couldn't imagine would be possible. He took his time; exploring every single part of her, he truly made her feel cherished. A hell of a lot more than Lucious had these past 17 years.

"Why am I comparing them?" Cookie groaned aloud as she got off the elevator to walk towards Lucious office.

"You wanted to see me."

"You know, Cookie, there was a lot I wanted to say to you last night that I didn't get a chance to say to you." Lucious said making his way from the desk to her.

Cookie cocked her head to the side with a scowl. "Yeah well after last night you might want to leave a lot unsaid."

"No no I realized last night that I don't ever want to be in that position again that I could lose you."

This motherfucker.

"I don't know how much time I got left in this world but I got 18,000 square feet. I'll share it with you."

Cookie chuckled, shaking her head in disbelief. "18 thou- , are you asking me to move in with you Lucious?"

"No I'm asking you to be my one again. I mean we conceived all of this. You and me," Cookie folded her arms across her chest as he went on. "We built this together, we fought for this, we defended this."

"You know when I first got out of prison, I had a stupid fantasy about us getting back together. So stupid."

"So I made mistakes."

"And?"

"I'll spend the rest of my life fixing them."

"Lucious. You don't care about nobody but yourself. Everything you touch, you destroy. Look at what you did to my sons."

"I can do better Cookie. In the end you're gonna understand the choices I made. I promise you I can do better I-." He reached out to hold her hands in his and she pulled them away, she saw the desperation in his eyes. He was scared, but she was tired of always giving in. Lucious didn't get to decide when and how he would need her, he didn't own her.

"You just don't wanna die alone." She smirked as she walked away from him, sealing the end of his hold on her. Somewhat. Even with all the hate she felt a part of her wanted to believe he could change. Cookie was no stranger to giving people second chances when they fucked up, but even she had her limit. The relationship between her and Lucious was seemingly irreparable no amount of promises of confessions of love could fix it.

Then why did she feel the familiar feeling of butterflies in her stomach when Lucious looked at her, when he touched her, when he told her wanted it to be them again? It was the feelings of butterflies that made her send Malcolm a text saying she needed to see him ASAP.. The same feeling that made her decide she was going to ask Malcolm to take her away from Empire. The same feeling that made her want to forget. It was that same feeling of butterflies in her stomach that made her realize Lucious still made her heart beat and she needed someone to interrupt the oxygen flow. It was in that moment she decided she was going to give Malcolm that chance to be her lifeline.

"Take me somewhere with you. I wanna be alone with you." Cookie asked, desperation in her eyes, pleading with him to help her start over and hoping he wouldn't reject her.

He immediately understood and she breathed a sigh of relief when he answered.

"Okay. Let's do that."