Romance. The very thought of it made Max scoff. What did she know about romance? It's not like Manticore had snuck it in between fire arms and assassinations 101. No, romance was not her thing.

So winning Alec with flowers and candy was out of the question.

It was simple, all she really needed to do was tell Alec how she felt. Yeah, it seemed real simple on the way over, easy as she walked up the steps that led to his apartment, but standing outside his door poised to knock, the weight of the world seemed to be on her shoulders. She dropped her hand to the side. She just had to go over the game plan.

"You can do this," she told herself, holding onto her side which was beginning to ache from all the physical exertion it took to bring herself there. "Just keep it simple."

"Keep what simple?" Alec asked coming from behind her with a large paper bag in his hands.

"Alec!?" Max jumped, half startled, half excited.

"Who were you expecting a circus of trained seals? You ARE standing in front of my apartment," he mocked with a wide grin. Same old Alec, pretending nothing was wrong. Pretending she hadn't ripped out his heart time and time again.

"You just startled me that's all," she all but whispered.

Alec walked past her and jingled his keys from his pocket, easing them into the sticky lock. He walked inside and set down the bag, leaving the door open. "Are you coming in or what?" He asked when she just stood at the doorframe.

Her eyes were large. Her heart was beating so fast, she thought for sure he would be able to see the pounding underneath her shirt. "Yeah, yeah of course."

"Want a drink?" He offered holding up a large bottle of scotch that he had just pulled from the bag.

"That would be nice," Max said, eagerly. Oh yeah, she was going to need a drink before she said what she had to say.

Alec set about pouring two shots and then brought them over to the couch where Max was seated. "Thanks," she said absently taking the glass, just barely touching his finger. Just one light touch but it gave her strength; reminding her why she was there, and what she had to do.

"No problem, wanna watch some t.v.?" He asked, plucking the remote from the coffee table and going about flipping through channels.

Max reached over and grabbed the remote from his hands. "No, no 'boob tube' tonight." She sighed, throwing the controller over her shoulder. "I've come here to talk and you're not getting out of it this time."

Alec eyed her with a cocky grin slapped on his handsome face. "So serious."

"I am. This is. Serious, I mean." Her hands were shaking, her nerves shot. What the hell was happening to her? This was Alec. Funny, witty, charming Alec, she sighed. "What I did to you wasn't right," she stated flatly.

"And what is it that you did?" He smirked.

"You're not going to make this easy, are you?"

"Max, when has anything between us ever been easy?"

"Never." She smiled, relaxing further into the comfort of the couch. The very same couch where she had held him while he had horrible dreams from a time that seemed a lifetime ago but was still effecting them even now. Who were they to have a real relationship, when they didn't even know what one consisted of? Who were they to fall in love? She had been asking herself all these questions and there didn't seem to be a simple answer. She knew in her heart, Alec never thought he deserved to be happy and couldn't be loved because that's what he had been taught, but she knew different. She knew if anyone deserved love and affection, it was Alec. Their time together had taught her what it meant to truly care for another person. In her heart, she would die for Alec and he would do the same. Words shouldn't matter, but they did to him, because he needed to hear it and she wanted to say it. Wanted him to know, if not from her actions then from her words how much she truly loved him. "I shouldn't have jerked you around for so long."

Max closed her eyes and groaned. It all seemed so easy in her head. She felt his breath on her neck and knew instinctively that he was concerned. She opened her eyes and found a wonderful green pair staring back at her. He hovered over her like she was a precious piece of china, even though both of them knew she was far from fragile. And maybe that was one of the things she loved most about him. That he could make her feel safe even if she could take care of herself.

"How are you feeling? Still sore?" He asked, moving his hands onto her hips. He gently eased her shirt from where it was tucked into her pants and ran his fingers under the fabric fingering the bandaged wound.

"A little," she breathed and took anther swig of her drink, draining the glass.

"It's healing well," he rasped, taken aback by the sweet smell of her. "Max...h-have you decided what you want?"

She nodded. "I'm sorry I couldn't say it before."

"I don't want you to be sorry," he told her softly, moving his hand to her cheek in a light caress. "I want you to be happy." She moved her hand so it was over his and pressed more firmly into his touch.

"I am Alec. When I'm here with you, I feel free. I forget that there are people out there that want to kill us for who we are. I forget about all the danger we get ourselves into. I forget the entire world exists. I love you that much." His eyes widened and a smile passed his lips, faintly. He ran his fingertips over her mouth and she kissed them individually.

"I've waited a long time to hear that." He breathed harshly, taking her hand and pulling her from where she sat.

"I've waited a long time to say it," Max told him shyly.

Alec blinked rapidly and for a moment he thought he was still locked in that small prison cell back at Manticore and that everything that was happening was just a dream. But when he opened his eyes and she was still there, he knew she would always be there.

"You know I love you too?" He whispered, pulling her into a hug. She nodded against his neck.. He smelled so wonderful, like fresh soap, leather and scotch. Max kissed his neck and for a moment he stiffened but then he pulled her tighter and she knew it was okay. Her hands went to his shoulders, taking the soft leather in her hands and pushing it down his arms, she threw the jacket on the floor and began to untuck his shirt and then pulled it off.

Alec took her already untucked shirt and pulled it over her head, grimacing at the bandage on her side.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" He groaned when she bucked into him.

"I'm fine. See." Max laughed, bumping her hips into his. He let out a tiny grunt. "Unless you're not okay?" She asked concerned, looking at his matching wound.

"Oh Max, I wouldn't let ten bullet holes stop me right now." He laughed against her ear, sending a shiver of anticipation down her spine. His breath was hot and moist on her neck and she knew she had to have him right then. Her lips crashed against his with bruising force. Her teeth, tongue, lips ravaged his mouth, sucking on his bottom lip as if it would produce milk. She was hungry and not just for anything. She wanted a taste of Alec. His hands caressed her side, moving up until he met the slope of her breasts. He tested the weight in his hands, loving the feel of her against his fingertips. Unclasping her bra, he got flesh to flesh contact and it was the most satisfying thing he had felt in a long time. Max fumbled with the zipper of his pants, feeling the heat and force of his erection. He moaned into her mouth and moved one hand to undo her pants. He was more successful and they easily slipped to the ground. Stepping out of them, she still fought against his zipper until he took her hands away. Working on it himself, he freed it within seconds and then kicked the jeans to the side. He scanned her body and the sight before him was shocking, pleasant and absurd all at the same time. "I thought you didn't wear pink?" He gasped, running his eyes over her pink panties.

"Sometimes we all have to make sacrifices for the ones we love." She laughed. When his look gave away his confusion, Max laughed even louder. "You said I looked good in pink, didn't you?"

His smile was instant and seemed like it would be permanent as long as Max was in his life.

THE END!!!