Chloe's forehead was bleeding, and it was - debatably - her own damn fault. She had gotten excited over the first real snow in Seattle, and had attempted to start a snowball fight while helping Max and Ryan clear the driveway. It wasn't her fault there was a patch of ice next to the mailbox, where she tried to hide from Ryan's assault, and it most certainly wasn't her fault that she smashed her head into the decorative metal windmill in the yard.
Ryan drove them to the hospital, relatively calm. He didn't need to worry - Max was freaking out enough for the three of them. She kept ranging somewhere between furious and terrified, constantly on the verge of tears, and even with the throbbing pain in her head, Chloe found it to be pretty damn cute. As Max switched between berating her for her carelessness and apologizing for the lawn ornament, Chloe could only stare up at her in wonder.
Since they got back from Arcadia Bay the week before, they had been more touchy-feely, but not much else. Chloe didn't want to make Max uncomfortable (besides all the teasing, of course), so even though she wanted nothing more than to make out all day, everyday, she hadn't made a move.
She was actually quite proud of that.
Chloe didn't think it was protocol, but they let Max come back into the emergency room with her. As comforting as it was to have Max nearby, she almost wished she didn't have to go through all of the medical history in front of her. Most of it she didn't mind disclosing - she happily responded to being sexually active with a "not at the moment" and a wink at Max, which made the brunette instantaneously beet red.
When they got to the medications section of the Q&A, she had to mention her fluoxetine. She had been hiding the bottle in "her" room, and had managed to sneak out to go to the doctor once by saying she needed to get work done on the truck. Max's eyes got a little wide when she mentioned it to the nurse, but otherwise did not make any other response.
While they awaited the doctor to come sew her face back together, Chloe looked over at Max, slightly nervous. "You ready for a badass battle scar?" She asked, hoping to get Max to cheer up a little bit, or at least respond. "Too bad it won't require an eye patch."
"I was hoping those weren't yours," Max said so quietly that Chloe almost didn't hear her. She was staring down at their joined hands as she spoke. "I saw them in your bathroom back...back then."
"Oh, yeah. That." Chloe sighed, her head dropping back into the pillow. Well, it was a secret while it lasted. "I didn't want to worry you with old shit."
"How long have you been taking them?"
"Three years, maybe? David and I had a moment, we agreed I'd go see someone." She looked over at Max, who stared solemnly back. Chloe gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Hey, I'm okay. I've been weaning off of it since...well, since before you came back. Should actually be on my last refill."
There was a pause as Max looked back down at their hands before leaning against them, her face warm on Chloe's hand. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"What, did you just want me to come out and say it? 'Hey Max, long time no see. You got time travel powers? Cool, I got antidepressants,' something like that?" She could feel a smile against her hand, and looked over at Max, eyes just barely visible under her bangs. She wanted to say more, to make sure Max was truly okay, but at that moment the doctor came in. Emotional cockblocker, she thought angrily in his direction as she got stitched up.
"So I just went down, you know, and I knew I hit something, but didn't really know anything was wrong until Max started screaming that I was bleeding." Ryan was chuckling, having lived through the situation, but Vanessa seemed somewhat horrified. Due to the excitement of the day, no one had let Vanessa know what went down, and she came home from work to a bandaged Chloe and carry out pizza.
"Chloe, I am so sorry!" Vanessa exclaimed. She looked about ready to go yank the windmill out of the ground herself.
Chloe laughed appreciatively, trying to quickly swallow her bite of pizza. "Don't worry about it, I'm hella stupid. Shouldn't have tried to pick a war with your husband. I was not prepared for that battle."
Ryan was still laughing at her. He looked over at Vanessa. "Not gonna lie, honey, it was pretty funny to watch."
"Ryan!" Vanessa scolded, but Chloe was grinning ear to ear. She had always thought he was a cool dad - nothing compared to her own, of course. The Caulfields had always been a little more calm and grounded than Joyce and William.
She turned to look at Max, who was sitting quietly, staring at her untouched plate. She had been lost in thought since they left the hospital, only answering questions aimed directly at her. Chloe wasn't certain what was going through her head, but she was determined to find out.
"Whelp, I'm thinking an early night, what with the-" Chloe whistled as she pointed at her forehead, where gauze had been taped over the stitches. "Thanks for buying dinner."
"You're very welcome, Chloe," Ryan smiled back at her before his eyes shifted to Max and her still-full plate. Before he could start anything, Chloe quickly grabbed her hand, pulling her onto her feet and up the stairs.
As soon as they closed the door to Max's room, Max pulled her hand away. Chloe looked at her, concerned, but Max was staring down at her feet. "Hey, what's up?" Chloe asked, taking a step towards her.
Max put her hands up, as if not wanting her to come closer. When she started speaking, there was an edge to it, as if she were trying not to cry. "I hate that you got hurt."
No shit, I wasn't a fan of it either. "Max, I'm fine, the doc said so. I'm just gonna get a sexy scar," she added, somewhat excited about that fact.
"You don't understand." Max was starting to wrap her arms around herself, digging her fingers into her arms. Chloe wanted to reach for her, but couldn't, not after being stopped just a moment ago.
"I'm not going to understand unless you tell me, Max. You're the one with superpowers, not me."
"I can't go back and save you again!" Max blurted out. There was raw emotion in her voice, a desperate tone. Max was staring back at her now, looking utterly torn. "I can't use my powers, I don't know what will happen if I do. But if something were to happen..." She trailed off, tears now starting to well up in her eyes. "When you fell, all I wanted to do was rewind, so you wouldn't get hurt." Her knuckles were now white as she gripped her own arms. "If something happened, if you...I'd go back, I would. I'd do it again."
"Max," Chloe started, feeling her own eyes start stinging. She didn't know what to say. For once, she was speechless, knowing that Max would risk who knows what for her. She took a step closer, and when Max did not protest, embraced her.
Max's arms gradually relaxed before wrapping themselves around Chloe. "I can't do this without you," Max whispered into her shoulder, gripping her shirt. "I can't. I won't."
"I'm not going anywhere," Chloe said as firmly as she could, what with her voice a little choked up. She debated staying silent, but she knew Max would want to hear whatever mushy shit she was thinking. "I waited too damn long for you to come back to just…just walk away. Wherever you go, I go."
There was a little jerk, as if Max had laughed. "Stalker," she said, a little amusement in her muffled voice.
Chloe smirked a little, even though Max couldn't see it. "I would have said 'loyal', or maybe 'romantic', but sure, that works too."
At that, Max pulled away, just far enough so she could look Chloe in the eye. "'Romantic'?" The question came with a shy little smile that was contagious, and a little gleam in those blue eyes.
Chloe giggled a little. "Hey, you're the one who put the moves on me, remember?" And I won't be forgetting that.
Max stared into her eyes, brain churning. There was a blush forming on her cheeks, but in a slow and certain movement, she lifted up on her tiptoes to give Chloe a kiss.
It wasn't like last time; it was short and sweet, something for the two of them, not an attempt to avoid the outside world. Still, coming from a pretty clear-headed Max, Chloe thought it was superior in every way.
Chloe didn't realize she was holding her breath until she started getting dizzy. Sighing deeply, she gently pushed Max's hair behind her ear. "You have no idea just how freaking adorable you are," she said quietly, resting her forehead against Max's. She felt a content smile spreading across her face as they stood there, eyes closed, arms still wrapped around each other.
I could stay like this forever. And, although she wouldn't admit it out loud, she hoped she would get the chance to. Max was an inevitable force of nature, and she had just never realized it. She was fairly certain there could be no alternative reality where she wasn't suppose to end up with Max. At least, no reality where she was alive.
After what felt like a blissful eternity, Chloe straightened up, a snarky grin forming. "Romantic enough for you?"
Max scoffed playfully, rolling her eyes. "You're a dork, Chloe Price."
In high spirits, Chloe quickly bent down and gave Max a peck. "But I'm a romantic dork, at least," she replied, watching the red in Max's cheeks with satisfaction.