Max sat in a hard plastic seat waiting under bright florescent lights. That seemed to be all he had done the last three days. Waiting for morning to come to see if August made it through the night. Waiting for EMS to arrive to take the barely alive old man to the hospital. Waiting for doctors to tell him there was nothing more they could do. Waiting for August's heart to stop beating when they took him off of life support. Now Max waited for the paperwork to release the body to funeral home so his grandfather could be buried next to his wife and daughter.

He had waited his whole life to be out from under the old man's thumb. His constant spew of volatile hatred. The crushing weight of constant disappointment. Always being compared to the man that took the life of his mother and then his own. He would never have to measure up to August's twisted set of expectations again. He was his own man.

Being his own man, however, had left him in a tumultuous state of confusion. Without August to dictate how he should feel, he didn't know what to feel. His mind alternated between guilt for not feeling remorse and relief that he was finally gone, but never grief.

He had no love for the only member of his family he would ever remember. What kind of person did that make him? That he could let his grandfather die without feeling anything. How could he be that cold? The fact that August probably would have done the same turned his stomach. He spent his whole life trying not to be his father. Had he turned into his grandfather instead?

Max pulled his phone from his pocket and opened his messages. He scrolled through the texts Avonlea had sent him over the past few days. Sweet notes letting him know how much she enjoyed their date. Worried texts wondering why he hadn't responded. Why hadn't he responded? He hadn't seen her in since that night. He couldn't bring himself to face her. He could barely face himself. Didn't she deserve better? Shouldn't he want better for her? He should, but he still wanted her for himself. If he should feel guilty about anything, it was that. His love for her was selfish. He wanted her even if it wasn't the best thing for her. He wanted her even though she would despise him if she ever found out who he truly was. He could live a lie his whole life, as many lies as it took, if it meant being with her. He could and he would.

"Max?"

He looked up, startled by sweet sound of Avonlea. Her brows were furrowed, her hands fidgeted with the hem of her cardigan she wore over her blue striped sundress.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I was visiting Jason. He gets out tomorrow. What are you doing here? Why haven't you returned my texts?"

An employee of the hospital walked towards him. "Here you are, sir. Everything is in order. You'll be able to make final arrangements for services with the funeral home. I'm very sorry for your loss." He gave him some papers, shook his hand, and walked away.

Max look over at Avonlea who was now seated. Her hand covered her mouth and her wide eyes searched his hoping for an alternative explanation. He sighed.

"Oh, Max…I'm—I'm so sorry. What happened?"

"He had a massive stroke a few nights ago in his sleep. He was on life support, but I took him off early this morning. There was nothing they could do." He looked to the ground hoping the shift in eye contact conveyed some sort of appropriate emotion.

Avonlea stood and took a step forward. His arms fell to his sides as hers wrapped around his waist. She leaned her cheek on his chest. He let his hands rest on the small of her back. His chin rested on her head savoring the way she fit so perfectly against him. He could feel a small wet spot spreading on his shirt. She wept for a man she didn't even know. He hadn't shed a single tear.

He pulled her away from him and looked her teary cheeks. "There's no need for tears. He was old and in poor health."

"Oh," she said, hastily dried her tears on the back of her sleeve. "I'm not crying for August. I mean it's always sad when someone passes, but I'm mostly sad you had to go through it alone. I would've come if you had let me know. No one should have to be alone during times like these."

"I didn't want to burden you."

Her hand gently reached up to his face. He pressed his cheek into the warmth of her palm. "Look at me. You are not a burden. Not to me. Not ever." For the first time in three days his eyes filled with tears. "Do you need to go to the funeral home?"

"No, I've already arranged everything. There won't be a service. Just a burial tomorrow."

She hooked her arm into his elbow and started leading them towards the exit. "I'd like to go with you if that's ok."

"You don't have to," he said.

"But I want to. You shouldn't have to do this on your own. You don't have to and I won't let you." She led him through the automatic doors. His hand shielded his eyes to the natural light of the afternoon sun. He followed her blindly as his eyes adjusted. "We're going home. You're staying with me until I know you'll be alright." She waved for a taxi.

His heart pounded. The only thing he could hear was the rushing of blood in his ears. She was inviting him to stay with her? She wanted to take care of him. He couldn't remember the last time someone took care of him; he was so young when his mother died. Maybe he could just stay one night. "Are you sure I won't be an imposition?" He slid into the taxi after her.

"Of course, not. We'll order take out. Watch movies. It will be like a sleepover but without the hair braiding and nail painting. Unless you're into that….I don't know your life." She smiled and bumped his shoulder with hers.

He couldn't help but smile back. It felt good to smile but wrong. He knew he should be grieving. He knew he should be guilty. But he was happy. He was going to get to spend the night with the woman of his dreams. He wouldn't be hindered by checking on August. His mood wouldn't be dampened by the cruel remarks of his grandfather. He was free. He felt free. Such a weight had been lifted. He had to contain his joy.

They reached the apartment building and went up to their floor. The whole building seemed brighter. He no longer felt suffocated entering it. It was his. He could do whatever he wanted with it. He looked at it with fresh eyes.

"Just grab some clothes. You can shower at my place if you aren't ready to be alone in your apartment yet." Avonlea said.

He nodded as he unlocked his door. He looked around the space. All the old furniture, pictures of dead family members, reminders of his past….he'd get rid of all of them. Burn them if he could, anything to exorcize those demons. He had a new future to look forward to.

A small hand rubbed his upper arm. "Hey, you okay," Avonlea asked, her sweet face full of concern.

"Fine. I'll just be a minute."

"Take all the time you need. I'll go call us up some food. The door will be unlocked. Just let yourself in." She turned and walked down the hall giving him an encouraging smile over her shoulder.

Max walked straight to his room. He grabbed some clothes and threw them in a small bag. He got his toothbrush and some other toiletries from his bathroom.

As he walked through the living room he stopped and dropped his bag. He gathered up picture frames and crotched blankets, all of August's knick knacks, the tiffany lamp owned by his grandmother, dried bouquets in heirloom vases, ferns in brass plant stands, and finally, he pulled all the heavy curtains downs. August wouldn't keep him shrouded in darkness anymore. He threw them all in August's room and closed the door behind him.

Max entered Avonlea's apartment and slowly started looking for her. He never felt uncomfortable moving through her apartment in secret, but now for some reason, he felt unsure of what to do. He found her in front of her computer. Her fingers tapping away at the keys.

"Hey," she said with a smile as she continued to work. "Come on in and make yourself at home. I did a quick scrub on the bathroom so you can shower and do whatever you need to do. Food is ordered. Hope Chinese is okay. I have some emails I have to answer. I am so behind on work right now. Once I'm done we can pop in a movie, sound good?"

"Oh. Um, sounds good. No classic movies though," he said. He knew they were her favorites but he couldn't handle to reminder right now.

"Okay. No classics. I'll pick out a sci-fi."

"Okay. Um, I'll just go shower. I really appreciate this. I didn't realize how weird my apartment would feel. I really don't want to be alone."

"You aren't alone, Max. And you'll feel much better after you take a real shower and eat something not served from a cafeteria."

He left her to work and made his way to her bathroom. He was half hard thinking of being naked in her apartment. His hair would smell like hers. The soap she rubbed on her body would slip and slide over his. His skin would touch her towels. He thought about taking care of his needs as he washed but he hoped that he would need his energy for later.

Max washed and dried himself savoring the scent of her clinging to his skin. He dressed in a dark t-shirt and jeans. Barefoot, he made his way back to the living room and sat on the couch. He leaned back and closed his eyes.

The smell of food wafted through the air. He opened his eyes and saw Avonlea sitting on the floor setting out containers and place settings on the coffee table.

"You're awake. I was going to give you a few more minutes, but I didn't want the food to get too cold."

"How much food did you order?" he asked with a chuckle looking at the spread.

Her cheeks reddened. She focused on opening lids. "I didn't know what you liked so I got a little of everything." She passed him a plate and they served themselves.

"So, um….how is your agent?" Max asked.

"Oh. He's got a few broken ribs and clavicle. But he's going to be alright. He just has to take it easy for a few weeks."

"And have the police gotten any leads?"

"No. They've gone through what little of my fan mail there is. All my social media pages. They think that maybe it was just a case of mistaken identity or that the attacker was high…maybe just crazy. Who knows?" She shrugged and continued, "Now that I've had time to calm down, it's hard to believe it would've been about me after all. I feel so stupid freaking out on you like I did."

"The important thing is you're safe now. It's always better to be safe than sorry."

"Yeah. So, I figured out what movie we should watch." She handed him a dvd box.

"What's that?"

"The Fifth Element. It's sci-fi, action, campy weirdness. The perfect movie to distract you. Have you seen it?"

"Um, no." He looked at the cover and wondered what he had agreed to. Bruce Willis and Gary Oldman….maybe it wouldn't be too bad.

"Okay, just prepare yourself."

Avonlea put on the movie and sat on the couch with her plate of food. They watched and ate, occasionally commenting on the movie. About half way through, she got up to put the rest of the food in the fridge. When she returned, she settled in right next to him. He, tentatively, put his arm around her shoulder pulling her into him. To his surprise, she relaxed and put her head on his shoulder; her body turned into his and her hand resting on his thigh.

Max had a hard time paying attention to the movie. She was so close. He thought of kissing her, but her giggles told him she was enjoying this bizarre movie. It did have some funny parts. He endured the movie and relished her warm body pressed up against him.

As the credits rolled, her hand came to rest on his chest. He covered her small hand with his and brought the palm to his lips. Her hand slid from his mouth to his cheek and turned his head towards her. She kissed his neck, his cheek, and finally, her lips touched his. The kiss was soft, lips meeting in feather light touches. She gradually sat up taller, her kisses becoming more insistent, their tongues swirling together. He tried to pull her into his lap but she pulled back. "Bedroom," she whispered in his ear. He rose pulling her up with him. He leaned down kissing, her tasting her as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Her hands slid around his neck pulling him down. Neither close enough to meet their needs.

He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom never breaking their kiss. He set her down on the edge of the bed. Desperate hands began moving trying to rid the other of the barrier of clothing keeping their skin from touching. Her cardigan and dress lay rumpled on the floor. His shirt and jeans next to them. He stopped to admire her curvy form adorned in light pink. He pushed her to the bed laying on top of her. She moaned into their deep kiss when his hands circled around her wrists pinning them to bed. Her hips lifted, thrusting against him, in search of friction.

Max trailed his kisses down her neck between the valley of her breasts over the soft plain of her abdomen. He nipped at the flesh around her navel. He could feel the heat of her center on his chest as he moved down her body. His fingers hooked under the waist band of her panties.

"Max, wait," she said breathily.

He moved back up and tried to kiss her. Anything to distract her. Anything to keep this from ending.

"No, Max," she gently pushed at his chest.

He looked into her eyes. Sighing he sat up. Dread replacing the desire coursing through his veins.

"It's just….I don't have any protection. I'm sorry." Her brows furrowed as she bit her bottom lip.

"I can't have kids," he said.

"What?"

"Not without medical intervention or fertility treatments," he lied. "I tried to donate when I was younger and it was rejected. It was one of the reasons my ex left."

"Oh, Max…I'm sorry."

He could see the mood slipping away. Why had he told that lie? Because he didn't want to end the night fucking his fist. Because he would say and do anything to be inside her without barriers. He put his feet on the floor, ready to leave.

"Max, there's just one more thing."

"What's that?" he asked.

"I don't want you to be shocked. Some people are." She sat up and slowly unhooked her bra. She pulled the pink garment away from her body revealing her pierced nipples to him. She laid down as he crawled over her body. He kissed her and filled his hand with the supple weight of her breast, the tiny metal piercing warming from the heat of his palm.

"You are beautiful and perfect." He took her nipple into his mouth gently licking and sucking. She moaned and arched under his attention. "Anything else I should know about?" He asked smiling.

"I'm very very flexible." She grinned.

He sat up on his knees between her legs. "Prove it." He groaned as she lifted a leg and pulled it to her chest. He wrapped a hand around her ankle and pulled her leg back towards him. He massaged her calf and her thigh. His fingers played with the band on her panties before pulling them down, baring her to him. He kissed her calf, behind her knee, and worked his way up the inside of her thigh. His lips ghosted over her pussy as he switch to her other thigh. He could see the tiny movement in her hips as they rocked desperate for more. He sucked on the flesh of her thigh leaving a red mark. A reminder for later.

Max settled in between her legs. He used his thumbs to spread her lips taking in all the intricate details of her folds. She was wet. So wet for him. The fact the he had aroused her to this extent already had him straining against his boxers, a wet spot from his precum darkening the fabric.

He caught a glimpse of them in the mirror over the dresser next to the bed. He watched as he licked one long slow lick from her entrance to her clit. Her mouth opened a low moan passing her lips, her back arched, her hands massaged her breasts. He watched her body move as she rode his mouth and tongue. He slipped in two fingers while his mouth worked and sucked on her clit. Her hands immediately moved to her side, twisting into her bedding. He felt her muscles flutter and contract around his fingers as the pumped in and out of her body. He kept touching and tasting, prolonging her orgasm until her body went lax. She panted and moaned as he slowly stroked her quivering body with easy licks lapping up her cum savoring the sweet taste of her.

He lifting himself away from the shelter of her thighs, he pulled his boxers off and laid his head on the pillow next her. He turned her limp body towards him and kissed her. Her hands slid down his chest and abs, under his erection gripping and squeezing him at the base before lightly circling around the rest of the shaft. He pumped into her hand and it moved up and down, his precum lubricating her palm. She lifted her leg over his hip and guided him towards her dripping entrance. He pushed into the wet warm sheath, his hand grabbed her ass pulling her body against him. He wanted to feel her nipples rub against his chest. He wanted to feel the one strip of hair above her pussy grind against him. He stretched and filled her, reveling in the way her body tightened around him. Their tongues massaging and exploring each other's mouths to the rhythm of his thrusts.

Suddenly, she pushed him onto his back straddling his hips. She rose and sunk back down on his dick, rolling her hips again and again. He watched her ride him, watched his dick glistening with her wetness as it disappeared into her body. He watched her breasts bounce and sway from the force of her movements. She leaned forward with her hands on either side of his head. She started to grind against the base of his dick. Her breathing became heavy. Her moans louder. Her breasts swayed in front of his face. He gripped her hips and pulled her down harder against him. He felt her pussy starting to contract again. He pushed his hips up thrusting into her hard and fast as her second orgasm rolled through her. Her pussy tightened hard around him, his thrusts became erratic as he shot hot cum into her pulsating body. She laid on top of him. Both of their chests heaving from their hard breathing. He wrapped his arms around her, stroking her back, loving the feel of her sweat slick skin on his. He kissed her forehead. She leaned up, kissed him on the mouth, and rolled off of him. His body mourned the loss of her weight and warmth.

He watched as she rolled off the bed and walked to the bathroom. He laid there wondering how he had gotten so lucky. He certainly didn't deserve her affection. He moved enough to pull the covers down and get under them. She came back to the room a few minutes later with a glass of water. She popped a pill into her mouth and took a drink then offered the glass to Max. He took a sip and set it on the nightstand. She crawled into bed with him cuddling up to his side.

"That was amazing, Max," she said with a sigh as she stroked his chest hair.

"It was," he agreed. "I'm looking forward to testing out that flexibility of yours though."

Avonlea laughed. "I'm not sure you can handle it."

"I'm not sure either, but I'm willing to take the risk."

They laughed and talked about the movie, her childhood, made plans for things they'd like to do in the city while holding each other until she started nodding off.

"Goodnight, Max," she said with a yawn.

"Good night, Avonlea."

She rolled over to her other side and fell asleep. He laid an arm over her side and closed his eyes. Inhaling the scent of her hair and the scent of her arousal that clung to his short beard. For the first time in his recent memory, he didn't dread tomorrow.

Max woke up some time later to the sound of the train rattling the windows. Avonlea didn't stir her sleeping pills keeping her fast asleep. He gazed at her as streetlight danced over her skin through flowing lace curtains. He traced the petals her tattoos with his fingers. She was so beautiful. Her lashes fanned out over her cheeks. Her lips in subtle pout.

He thought of the times he had watched her sleeping standing over her and now he was lying next to her. He gently pulled the sheets away from their bodies. His hand gently ran down her arm then up her belly. He cupped her breast and squeezed watching the way it moved in his hand in the mirror. He moved his hand down her body once more cupping her mound. She was still wet. Whether it was her own fluid or his, he didn't care. He was hard again and needed to be inside her. He slid down the bed a little. He lifted her leg and pushed himself inside her. He watched in the mirror as he thrust himself inside her tightness. How many times had he fantasized of taking her while she slept? The thrill of being caught heightened his sense of pleasure. He thrust faster not worried about prolonging his performance for her pleasure. She let out a small hum of pleasure in her sleep. That was all it took to send him over the edge. For the second time that night, he came deep inside her.

He stayed inside her until he was completely soft. He rubbed his lips on her bare shoulder. He covered them up with blankets and sheets once more and let his hand rest on her lower abdomen. He knew they were meant to be together forever. A family. He would make sure he always had a part of her.