Author's note: Here we go. This is the end...as far as I can tell. When it comes to these matters, you all can suggest just about anything to spark my imagination and keep a story going. Also, I'll admit, I had a few...hinderances while posting this whole story that led to such a long delay that, once again, I feel like smacking myself. Although, I did do good this chapter. And it's the final chapter too. I just need to get over myself and stop sleeping...just kidding. I like sleeping too much to give up what precious few hours I get. It just gets frustrating sometimes. I love writing, and I do a lot of it. And I'm a total critic when it comes to my own writing, so, unfortuantely...it takes me forever to complete a story these days. Time management is such a bitch. But enough about me. Let's get on with the story shall we? It's been fun, y'all.

Music Suggestions: 'Don't let it go to your head' by Fefe Dobson, 'Humans being' by Van Halen, 'I melt' by Rascal Flatts, 'All the same' by Sick Puppies.

Disclaimer: Umm...no? Not mine and never will be Dark Angel is.

Chapter 5

Max thought over her options on the way back to her and Alec's apartment. She had formulated two plans on her way home: one for if he was there and the other...was a lot more daunting, not to mention daring. She would be jeopardizing a lot if he'd changed his mind. Thoughts such as these lead to her forwardness the night before. Now that he'd had a sample, was it not to his liking? Was he backing out because he knew they wouldn't work? He was usually all about the rushing into bed with the nearest and most willing women. Here, she'd been all the more willing and able and he'd pushed her away. Was she not what he imagined her to be?

Did he ever even think about her like that?

She ordered herself to stop thinking about all the “what ifs” and “maybes” and all together daydreaming to focus on the task in front of her. All she did was think of the past. She needed to look to the future.

This was what they were designed for, after all. Well, not necessarily to seduce a potential mate, but to design a plan and execute it with deadly precision. Were they not designed to take on the world and then some?

Before she even walked through the door, Max knew that Alec hadn't returned. No sounds emanated from within and no other indicators presented themselves as evidence to Alec ever having been there while she'd been gone. Determined, she shut and locked the door behind her, more out of habit than necessity, and made her way to her bedroom to find her best underwear set.

Undressing as she went, she tossed her clothes about haphazardly to leave a trail for Alec whenever he chose to return. She knew he had to return sometime, he couldn't avoid her forever. And she was going to make damn sure that once he returned, he wasn't going anywhere.

oooosoooo*ooonooo*ooouooo*ooxoo

Max had waited for Alec for hours. After alternating between pacing back and forth and drifting over to his closet to inhale his scent just because, she decided to lay down on his bed for a quick nap.

Crawling under the covers and curling up into a comfortable position that resulted on her laying half on her stomach with one knee drawn up while her other leg stretched out, Max snuggled into his pillow and let her eyes fall shut.

She had no idea when Alec planned on returning home anyway.

ooozooo*oooaoooo*oosoovoo*oonooo

After leaving Biggs' apartment, Alec hadn't felt up to facing Max again so soon. There was still too much to account for, questions he didn't yet have answers for. And when he did face Max again, he wanted to be sure of everything he said and did.

Spontaneity was part of who he was. Ever since Manticore, he'd prided himself on his ability to throw caution to the wind and do as he pleased, consequences be damned. But when it came to Max, he always acted a little different, because even if she hadn't been able to see it, she could depend on him to be there if she ever needed anything. Even then, that was before all these complications began to arise and feelings began to change. Max had become a woman he not only wanted as a friend, but a woman he wanted to be with...in every way imaginable.

As a result, he wandered about TC, surveying and analyzing all that needed to be done. Otherwise, making excuses for staying away. As he passed by several groups spread out sporadically along the way, either up to no good (meaning younger ones and pranks, in which he had coached one or two, away from Max's penetrating and disapproving gaze of course) or discussing various matters to improve TC, he never realized just how many inhabitants TC had come to acquire. And, being as it was shortly after sunrise, how many of them were morning people. Apparently sleeping in was being in the minority, along with being an X5 thing.

After checking in with a surprised Dix on the day's impending schedule, breaking up a little “love” spat between a fiery X5 female he'd affectionately nicknamed Red and her recently acquired nomalie mate (something that was unusual and unheard of, even to all the transgenics), talked Mole down from “educating” a couple of X7's that had pranked the poor lizard-man out of his best stash of cigars, and organized a quick snatch and grab for supplies at the end of the week with a couple other X5's that appeared to never sleep, he finally made his way back out, leaving central command and walking leisurely from one end of TC to the other.

He forced himself not to think of Max and what had transpired that morning. It all seemed like a blur. He'd never even thought it possible that she'd want him the same way he did her. He could still feel her hands on his skin, ghosting over him no matter what he thought about. Of how her fingertips dug into his back as she clung to him as he made his way down her body. He could feel her lips and her tongue as she tortured and teased the skin on his neck and collarbone in reward for his pleasuring her. He could still feel her breasts pressed into the palms of his hands underneath her shirt, feeling how she reacted to his touch...

Looking up at the sun and realizing how close it was to setting, he glanced down at his watch. Cursing to himself when he realized how long he'd been gone and how that must have made Max feel, he turned and cut down the alley to his right, taking the shortest route possible between him and Max.

ooowoo*ooocoooooo*oozooosooo*oouoo

“Max?” Alec called out as he walked through the door after unlocking it. Frowning when he didn't receive an answer, Alec shut and relocked the door before moving deeper into the apartment to search her out. He knew she was here, he could smell her. But it was different. It was so familiar, yet he just couldn't put his finger on it, something subdued. She must have fallen asleep.

As he pondered, he wandered into his bedroom with his head down, intent on placing what was different. However, his head snapped up when his eyes landed on a pair of jeans that were most definitely not his lying at the foot of the bed. He recognized the scent then.

Max was laying sprawled out on his bed, apparently asleep. This didn't surprise him so much as the fact that she was practically naked beneath the covers. It turned him on unlike anything imaginable, the hidden parts beneath the cover. She was covered from the waist down, but her entire back was bare save for the three little black lines of her bra. His gaze followed the trail of runes until they disappeared beneath the cover, making him wonder how far they went.

He stood there in disbelief for an indeterminable amount of time before he heard in a sultry voice, “Care to join me?”

His eyes refocused to see her turning over and staring at him hungrily. Confused by the fact that this was Max asking him to, well, get naked with her, he took a deep breath while otherwise remaining immobile. She wasn't in heat, yet something similar. She was aroused. Something he never thought he'd witness, let alone be the cause of. And while he didn't at all mind this side of Max, it still didn't explain why she was seducing him. Again.

“Max,” Alec asked in a strained voice, “Why me? Why now?”

“Alec,” Max said, shaking her head slightly as she sat up, “That doesn't matter now. Don't think about it, just feel. Come and feel with me. Explanations can wait.”

She let the covers fall away as he walked towards her slowly. He let her pull him into her embrace, his Max. His salvation.

Everything was finally as it should be. They were finally together, body and soul. A union that was never disputed, never challenged. All the arguing now made sense. Love always was a hard thing to define. Sometimes, a person just has to find their own way.

ooooonoooo*oooxoooooo*ooovoooooo

I think I got it this time. It may or may not feel kind of rushed, and the ending may not be as spectacular and (how do I put this lightly...)all-inclusive (if you get my drift), but I just couldn't find it in me to go into detail as I sometimes tend to do. If any of you think of something that would work better, suggest it right on up. I love weaving in other people's ideas into my stories, it adds a little flavor to it (even if I'm the only one that can see when that happens). So please, don't hesitate to tell me when I can do better. Just give me some options as to how to improve. I'm all about improvement.
Also, since I'm not really the naming of names type, I just wanted to thank you all, whether or not you reviewed. It doesn't matter how many times or which stories you've read or even how in depth a review may be. It gives me such a thrill letting you all read my inner fanfiction musings, and even though I may not always express it and reply to every single review I receive, just know that I greatly appreciate any and every one of you. Before I start sounding too sappy...this is the end. Of this long-ass author's note and the story. But fear not, I shall still be lurking about, posting new stories whenever I'm able. I love it too much not to. WBL.