Thanks again everyone for all your wonderful reviews!

This is going to be my last chapter. So I thank everyone for reading this. xxx

"So...was Max right?"

Ashley had been seated in the car with Stevie for the past hour and a bit; after a small chat about the case with her superior, they had fallen into silence. Until now that was "About?" Ashley replied, feigning ignorance.
"About you cheating on Harvey" Stevie clarified as she looked at the dark brown haired woman; a small smile of sympathy on her face.

Ashley looked down at her hands; closing her eyes and open them again "It was an accident and I feel like shit over it" She said quietly. Stevie looked back at the house they were watching; she wasn't going to judge Ashley; it just wasn't her way. She was old enough to make her own choices "Anyone I know?" But Stevie was afraid she already knew the answer.

"Yep"

"Max?" Stevie asked.

Ashley nodded once and looked out the window; she let out a long sigh and sniffed once "I wish I didn't. But for some stupid, unknown reason I did"
"Because you love him" Stevie clarified.

Ashley nodded again and stayed quiet. She wondered what the reception would be when she got back to CID; what the reception from Max would be.
She inwardly growled as she remembered what he did; he wound her up. She hit him; she hated him so much at that moment; but then she remembered the way he touched her, the gentle caresses. And then she remembered that she was completely in love with him.

"Are you gonna tell Harvey?" Stevie asked when she saw Ashley deep in thought.
Ashley shrugged "I don't know Stevie. I mean; I love Harvey and I can't believe what I did to him. But I also love Max. And I know that it's stupid because he's such a dick; and he's my boss and—I'm screwed Stevie. If I tell Harvey, I loose him and have no one; if I don't the guilt will continue to eat me alive" She said as she leaned back into the seat.

Stevie placed a hand on Ashley's arm and looked at her with sympathetic eyes "Look; I think you should tell Harvey. If he loves you as much as he says he does, he would look past this" She explained.
Ashley nodded in agreement "Yeah; you're right" She said; watching as a suspect walked out of the house they were watching.

"I think we need to talk" Ashley said into her phone as she paced out in the courtyard. The first thing she did when she got back to the station was dial Harvey's number. She didn't know why she was doing this; but when she saw Max walk down the ramp with Terry, both of them in deep conversation, and then he looked at her and gave her a small smile; she knew why she was doing it.

"Alright. Where do you wanna meet up? I can pick you up from the station if you want and we can go to that cafe you like so much" Harvey said as he leaned back in his chair; playing with his deep blue tie.

Ashley nodded "Yeah; it sounds good. I'll see you in a few then"
"Love you babes" He told her.

Ashley felt much more guilty now "You too" She replied before hanging up and placing her phone in her pocket.
Max looked over at her from the car and told Terry he'll be right back. The older man gave Max a disapproving look before watching what he was doing; when he saw Max walk over to Ashley he mumbled "Oh I hope she knows what she's getting herself into"

"Ash. Everything okay?" Max asked; pretending that what she said in the office about her loving him didn't really bother him that much; when, in fact, it was all he could think about. But he knew better then to make a move on her when she's still in a relationship.
Ashley shook her head "I'm going to tell Harvey. He's picking me up for lunch and I'm going to tell him then" She said as she looked down.

Max nodded and placed his hands on his hips "Listen Ashley. I wanted to apologise for before. I was out of line" He said as Ashley looked up at him.
"Yeah. You were" Ashley agreed "But; I think it was something we both needed to get off our chests" She said as she looked at Max.

"So you meant it then?" He asked in surprised.

Ashley nodded "Yeah. I did...Everything" She said with a small sigh she continued "I don't know when it started or why I do. I mean; you're a class A dick to me. But; there was something about you that I've always kinda liked" She said; looking over at Terry who was waiting impatiently by the car "You always had my back"
"And I always will" Max finished as he looked behind him "Good luck. And um; Ashley. If you need some place to go if it all goes pear shaped, my place is available" He said.

Ashley smiled "Like last time" She commented.
"If you're lucky" He retorted with a laugh before walking back to Terry; having a whole new outlook on everything.

They both ordered their food and sat at the small table; a toasted cheese and ham sandwich in front of Ashley and a green salad in front of Harvey.
"So; what was it that you wanted to talk about?" Harvey asked with a mouth full of food.
Ashley looked down, suddenly not feeling very hungry "Um..I really don't know how you're going to take this..." she started; playing with the white napkin on the table.

Harvey looked up with confused eyes "Just spit it out" He laughed.
"I slept with someone else" She said slowly; not meeting Harvey's eyes. The whole demeanour on his face changed when she said this; it was like a dark shadow had crossed it.

"What?" Harvey said in a disbelieving tone.
Now that Ashley had said it; it didn't seem so terrifying "I had sex with someone else" She stated.
"Who?" Harvey said; anger evident in his voice. She couldn't really blame him; "Don't' answer that. I think I already know. DS Carter right?" He snarled as he threw his fork in his salad and leaned back in his chair; running a hand over his face.

"I'm sorry" Ashley said in a soft voice as she leaned across the table.
Harvey stood up abruptly "No, you're not. Not really. I saw the way you looked at him Ashley. When he was at your house. When he was withdrawing. You love him" He let out a long sigh and sat back down "I love you Ashley. Really I do. And I was so excited to be marrying you. But; I think neither of us are ready to be married. To be tied down"

Ashley looked at him with tears in her eyes "What are you saying?"
"I think we should call time on this. I mean; it's obvious that you're in love with him. And he's someone who you can talk too about the cases and the things you see" Harvey said with his own tears in his eyes.
Ashley nodded and tried to stop the tears from falling "I love you" She whispered as the tears fell.
Harvey nodded "Me too. I hope he looks after you Ash. Really I do" He said as he wiped her tears away.

Ashley took of her engagement ring and placed it in his hands "Save it for someone who can look after you; treat you better then me" She smiled.
Harvey stood up and placed a kiss on Ashley's head "You did the best you could. We both did" He said; and he walked away.

That night; Ashley found himself in the arms of her sergeant. She went to his house after everything and told him what had happened. He pulled her into a hug; kissing her forehead and whispering that everything would be okay.
He told her that he did love her and he always had; that's why he continued to push her away.

She could feel his fingers tracing her bare arms as she stared up at the ceiling; her head resting on his chest "Do you think it'll all be okay?" She whispered to him.
Max shrugged a shoulder, making sure not to shift her "Maybe. I'm not too keen on looking into the future just yet"
Ashley smiled and nodded "Maybe I should take that piece of advice" She mumbled.
Max smiled and kissed the top of her head "Maybe you should" He laughed as Ashley looked up at him and kissed his lips; squealing as he rolled on top of her.
Ashley laughed; she knew that was where she belonged, here and now. Yet she couldn't rid herself of the sense of dread which was building inside her stomach.