Reunion

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

She tried to listen and not judge as Maxi went on and on about her new fling. Guys who were afraid to commit were bad news. They would never succumb to the relationship or feelings of the other, and deep down Becca felt her friend would get hurt. The thought upset her but she didn't say anything or outwardly show her fear of the inevitable.

Then again, Rebecca was sort of a pessimist. Having your adopted family murdered as a teenager could do that to a girl.

"He bought your dress and shoes?" She asked when she was finished. That sounded strange. Why would he buy her clothing for their date? He obviously wanted her to look a certain way. A way that Maxine didn't already look. It sounded so possessive!

"Just see to it that he doesn't hit you or belittle you or anything." She said softly, trying her very best not to sound like such a downer.

"He and Brett got into a fist fight over me, actually. Brett was being overprotective and August was being territorial. I let both of them know that wasn't okay, but I'm still trying to keep them in separate corners." She raised her brows. Brett got in a fight with someone and didn't arrest them to prove a point? That was sort of shocking. August must be a decent sized man to take on Brett.

"I would have paid to see that." She said and knew immediately that she would be questioning dear old Dawson about this August fellow, seeing as he fought the guy.

"How many passes has Brett made at you?" She actually grinned and rolled her eyes at the question. "Too many times." She said but shook her head. "All were teasing, though. He's not actually interested, he was just being, well, Brett." She shrugged, knowing she wasn't the boys type. He hit on her because he was a brat and she had a vagina. That was it.

When Gavin returned with their refills she gave him a grateful smile and then took a sip. "I'm sure your number tops mine, though. And I bet it drives your guy up the wall." She chuckled.

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

"Too many times." Maxi giggled, knowing she would answer that way. "All were teasing, though. He's not actually interested, he was just being, well, Brett."

Maxi laughed, knowing what Becca meant. Brett tending to hit on any girl would was attractive, just to see how far he could push his limits. He even still flirted with Maxi, even though he knew nothing would ever come of it. Maxi flirted back, but all out of jest. Brett was like a little brother to her, in a lot of ways. He was her best friend, and she wouldn't jeopardize that friendship with anything more. She took her drink with a smile and a thank you, and sipped it before Becca spoke again.

"I'm sure your number tops mine, though. And I bet it drives your guy up the wall."

It was Maxi's turn to roll her eyes and shake her head. "I can't even count all the times Brett has made a pass at me. At first he was serious, but now it's just playful, like with you. That's what started the fight between him and August, though. Well, sort of. August freaked out because Brett was over just hanging out. He thought I was sleeping with him, Of course, Brett didn't help, making hints that we were more than just friends, which led to a fight. It took me a while to convince August I wasn't sleeping with him and Brett that I wasn't August's slave or anything. August and Brett still don't trust each other, though."

Maxi shrugged and took a sip of her drink before she looked over at Becca again. She knew Becca didn't like the sound of all this. Maxi could practically read Becca's mind after all of these years together. "You're not thinking of plotting with Brett against August, are you?" she asked. She narrowed her eyes, playfully suspicious, though she could see the wheels turning in Becca's head. "I promise, everything is fine, Becca. I'm happy with August, and you don't have to worry about me. I can handle it, trust me," she assured. Maxi had always looked fragile and probably always would. It made people around her want to protect her, save her from the evils of the world. She knew she was stronger than anyone gave her credit for, though, and she found she had to remind them constantly. Yes, she cared for August, and found she would do just about anything for him, but not at the risk of losing herself. That would be unacceptable, and if that happened, she would be forced to put August behind her.

"Are you missing Washington? It must be so quiet here compared to the big city," she said, trying to change the subject. She didn't want to make Becca uncomfortable with this talk about August. Plus, she was interested to know what Washington was like. It seemed so exciting compared to their sleepy little town.

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

"You're not thinking of plotting with Brett against August, are you?" Rebecca opened her mouth and shut it, pressing it into a thin line as her teacher friend continued. "I promise, everything is fine, Becca. I'm happy with August, and you don't have to worry about me. I can handle it, trust me,"

The girl frowned and then nodded, trying to look calm. She wanted to respect Maxine's judgement, but it was difficult. Surely it wouldn't hurt to ask Brett a question or two, would it? "Alright." She said defeated, not letting on that she still intended to snoop just a little into this guy.

She sipped her drink as Maxine probed about missing Washington. She shook her head. "Not really. I mean, maybe a little. It was a great place but I guess I never really felt like I was at home. There was loads to do, just no one to do it with. I had some friends, but... work..." She shrugged as if this was an acceptable excuse to not go out and do things. Maxine knew how serious Becca took work.

Law enforcement was a career path stemmed from her traumatic youth. It was almost like she was looking for something, maybe justice, but she could look night and day and it wouldn't matter. The only family she ever knew was gone, and the one she was supposed to belong to probably didn't even exist. She had already decided if she ever did have a child, she would adopt them. Give a kid a chance like her parents had given her.

"I vow to have more of a life here. I need to act my age more, I think." She shrugged again and then forced a smile. "I'm like a step away from becoming a boring old cat woman without the cats." She teased. Then a though occurred to her. "Does August have a friend? Maybe we could double." She had no interest in a date or doubling with one of this guys friends, but it was an easy way to get a glimpse into how he treated her, which would certainly give her piece of mind.

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

Honestly, Becca made Maxi worry sometimes. She understood being something of a recluse, not really having much of a social life herself, but she had made tons of friends over the years. If she wanted to go out, she knew who to call, or if she just wanted to have a friendly chat or cup of coffee with. With Becca, she was afraid she was Becca's only real friend. Becca tended to be reserved a keep to herself and her work. Maxi was afraid her encouragement of Becca's work ethic as she grew into adulthood may have gone too far. At least she was home, though, and near people she knew again. Maybe now she could have some fun, instead of feeling like she was in a strange city.

"I'm like a step away from becoming a boring old cat woman without the cats." Maxi laughed loudly. "But the cats would be so cute!" she teased.

"Does August have a friend? Maybe we could double."

Maxi was floored by the statement, and she let it show in her wide eyes. Before she could really process it, she considered the answer. "I don't know. He's only ever taken me on one date. I don't know that he would be entirely comfortable going out with another couple or setting up his friend with a stranger. That's such a...couple-y thing to do, set up another couple. And technically we're not a couple, so I don't think he'd be interested in that. I don't even know if he has any friends," Maxi said with a little laugh, realizing they had never talked about his friendships, even though there had been plenty of discussion about hers. Then she grew suspicious.

"That's a very odd request from you," she said slowly, narrowing her eyes playfully. "You're not really looking, are you?" She didn't believe it for a minute. But what was the purpose of asking?

[REBECCA TAYLOR]

The more she talked about not knowing his friends he more she became suspicuous of him. Didn't Maxi see all the red flags? He wasn't letting her into his personal life which meant he was keeping her at a distance. Maxi was obviously into him and Rebecca knew she was going to get hurt. They had only been on one date! She feared he was only using her, and though Maxi was a grown woman who could make her own decisions, she was still terrified about the pain he would inevitably cause her. Not to mention he could be a nut job!

"That's a very odd request from you," Becca raised a brow and opened her mouth, but what could she say? It was an odd question from her. She shut it, pursing her lips. "You're not really looking, are you?"

Rebecca furrowed her brows and blushed slightly, her lips in a thin line. Maxi wasn't an idiot. If anyone was the idiot it was herself thinking that Maxi would fall for that. She knew her friend could see through her! Still, she didn't want to back down. Surely Maxi knew she had her very best interests at heart.

"No, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't enjoy double dating with you." She offered in the attempt of a good save. "I mean, dates are always so boring and if it doesn't go well, which with my luck happens often, then I would at least have a backup." she inwardly smiled at herself for her excellent save. Hopefully Maxine would buy it.

"But enough about my dating. Doesn't it bother you he's so secretive? You don't even know about any of his friends. I mean, he's opened up to you, right? About himself? Even a little?" She bit her lip, her look concerned as she slid so easily into a mix of detective mode and little sister mode. "Do you know where he works? If he has siblings? Where he lives?" They were good questions, and her eyes were probing as she searched for reassurance that this guy wasn't going to hack her up and store her in a freezer.

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

Maxi wasn't buying that dating story in the least. Becca didn't want to double date with her and August. She was probing for some information. That's what Becca always did; hell, she did it for a living. What she was probing for was still a mystery, but either way, it was to figure out more about August. Honestly, Maxi wasn't sure if she wanted to ever introduce those two. The more thought about it, the more she was certain they would hate each other. She knew Becca would be like this, though, about any man Maxi dated. It was the little sister side of her, always wanting to protect Maxi. In time, she would live with the fact that she was with August.

"But enough about my dating. Doesn't it bother you he's so secretive? You don't even know about any of his friends. I mean, he's opened up to you, right? About himself? Even a little? Do you know where he works? If he has siblings? Where he lives?"

Maxi had to laugh, shaking her head. "Is this an interrogation, Detective Taylor?" she teased, but the questions did bother her a little. Her smile became a half-hearted one as she looked down into her drink. "Yes, it does bother me," she finally conceded. "That he's so secretive, I mean. But I've got time to figure out more about him. He's not disappearing any time soon. He's just the kind of guy that has to get comfortable with somebody before he opens up to them. But he has opened up to me. He's told me a little about his parents and some about his job. Most of our conversation ends up about me, but I don't mind. At least he wants to know more about me. And I went to his apartment for the first time last night. Actually...last night..." She felt a little blush come to her cheeks as she smiled wider and looked at her hands. "Last night he told me he was mine." She looked back at Becca, sensing she didn't get it. "That's a big thing for him, trust me. He doesn't like giving up control to anybody, but he gave some up to me." She heard how bad that sounded, and she sighed, frustrated, not liking questioning her feelings for August. "I know how it sounds and I know I sound naive, Becky, but I'm...I'm happy. For the first time in forever, I'm happy with a man. And I want you to be happy for me."

She looked to her friend, almost pleading. She didn't want Becca to be unhappy with her choice. Which is precisely why she left out the fact that a strange man came to August's apartment last night and threatened him over a ring. She didn't want Becca to worry unnecessarily. It was enough that August was worrying about her unnecessarily. She didn't think the guy was a threat to her anyway, the more she thought about it during the day. "Isn't there anybody at the precinct who's caught your attention?" she asked, drawing the focus away from her again. She gave a playful smile. "I don't think you'd like any of August's friends anyway, if he has any." Maxi really didn't think he had many friends. He just seemed the type to not need many friends...or want them.