You used to be so close with Maxwell. Until he started shutting you out and acting like some big shot.

Now he's down on his luck and has nowhere else to turn. But are you willing to give him a second chance?

Major angst and some swearing and innuendo.

................

You can't believe it! Maxwell Lord has finally come crawling back to you after all this time. You used to be so close with him.

Now you're nothing more than strangers. He really screwed up this time. And now, he thinks that you're going to be the one to help him out.

What the hell is wrong with him??

..................

Several years ago:

You're gently massaging Maxwell's shoulders as he sighs in contentment. You lean forward, planting a kiss on the top of his head.

"You're the best, Y/N," Nax says softly. You smile.

"Of course I am." Maxwell chuckles and reaches for you. You settle down in his lap, wrapping your arms around him.

You love being so close to him. You've been friends for a long time. You know all about Maxwell's struggles growing up and his failed marriage.

You always wanted to take care of him. You're very protective of him. You hate that he's so down on himself.

You're always telling him that he's not a messed up loser, like he thinks he is. You begin stroking his hair and his expression changes. You see the intensity and vulnerability in his brown eyes and you feel yourself being pulled into his soul.

"Y/N," Maxwell breathes, his voice dropping low.

"Maxwell," you begin but stop. He looks away.

"I know. You're not...interested in me that way."

"No, it's not that. I do care about you. Very much so. I'm just scared I'll...hurt...you."

"You could never hurt me." Maxwell gently presses his lips to yours and you smile.

"I want you." Now Maxwell smiles. You can't get enough of his smile.

"I want you to, Y/N."

.............

Present day:

You stare at Maxwell in disgust. You cannot believe his audacity. Showing up out of the blue and just thinking you still.. cared about him.

"Get lost, Max. I'm don't want anything to do with you."

Maxwell's face falls and you see the old Maxwell, the one you fell so hard for, all those years ago.

"I know. I screwed up. You can't even begin to imagine how terrible I feel about how things ended between us."

"You told me that you didn't need me anymore, Maxwell. Do you even realize how badly that hurt me?"

"No," he says, his voice barely audible. "I can't." He turns away,  his shoulders slumped in defeat. He walks away and you slowly close the door, leaning heavily against it, as tears start to flow.

.................

Several months ago:

You're staring at Maxwell in disbelief. He's been talking nothing but nonsense. About some damn relic that could change his life.

"We could have anything we ever wanted!" You hate to admit it, but he's become somebody you don't know anymore.

"Why?" You press. "You're doing fine on your own."

Maxwell's face turns bright red and you know he's going to fly off the handle.

"You don't get it, do you?" He growls impatiently. "With this stone, I could be anybody. Have anything I want! So could you!"

You give him a sad smile before standing to your feet.

"No, Max," you say softly. "You're the one who doesn't understand. I already have everything I could ever want."

................

Present day:

You're searching for...Maxwell. You hardly slept last night. You tossed and turned for hours, that sad, defeated look in his eyes haunting you.

You finally spot him and start to run. You scream his name and Max turns, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

"Oh, Maxwell, " you say breathlessly. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have turned you away like I did. I was still so hurt that you made me feel like I was nothing to you."

Maxwell grabs you by the waist and kisses you passionately and you start to cry. He holds you close and begins stroking your hair.

"I did," he whispers in a choked voice. "I was blinded by the dream stone. I foolishly thought it was what I needed and...even wanted."

Maxwell looks at you and you try to smile at him. You stroke his dyed blond hair.

"What I really needed and truly wanted was you, Y/N. I just didn't realize that all those months ago."

Maxwell is crying now, too, and all those bad feelings you had stored up inside,  suddenly float away.

"It's okay, Maxwell.  Well, not totally. But it can be. If we start over?" Maxwell  nods and smiles and then kisses you gently.

"Yes, my sweet girl. We can." You hug Maxwell tightly, hoping that this time,  things will be different.

And you begin again.