Work Text:
Everything is done.
Their moms are safe.
The timelines have merged and stabilized.
Everyone is safe.
But Chloe needs to see on person, after everything, and she can’t find him.
They’re in Wonderland, celebrating the victory, the end of their school year, the peace that’s finally found their souls again.
Everyone’s here.
The Smee twins and Pink are off getting into trouble.
Hazel and Robbie were discussing cupcakes.
Luis and Red were dancing.
Chloe is searching for Max Hatter.
And he’s just— gone.
After searching the ballroom, and asking around, Chloe heads out for some air.
Maybe she can figure out where he’s gone once it's quieter.
But when she steps into the back garden, her eyes find him instantly.
He’s got his back to her, head tilted like he’s staring at his reflection in the water fountain before him.
Chloe approaches him slowly, nervous because she knows he's hurting.
Everything’s gone to hell in a handbasket for him, and Chloe hates it with every ounce of her soul.
Bridget adopted him after his father's disappearance.
All that was left of Maddox Hatter was a letter telling Max that he will never be back.
A lot of things changed that day.
Max has been quieter the last few times she’s been around him.
Avoiding her.
Avoiding Red.
Hell, he’s managed to avoid Pink, and she’s in on all the fun.
It’s been a week since they almost kissed, breathless and relieved that everything was over, foreheads pressed together like they were the only grounding they needed.
A week.
Chloe hasn’t been able to stop thinking about his breath mingling with hers.
About the way he looked at her as their noses brushed.
The way he shut down when her eyes closed.
The way he pulled away and something in his face twisted like it was the worst choice he’s ever made.
“Max,” Chloe feels breathless as she calls his name.
He turns, and ever from the distance, Chloe can see the surprise on his face.
She runs across the space, only slowing when she can see the half-smile curving his lips.
“Chloe,” her name sounds like a wish falling from his lips. “What has you out here instead of enjoying the party in there?”
“Well, when I was in there, looking around at the amazing people that have come into my life, I realized something,” Chloe’s voice is soft as she steps up to him fully. There’s a small step of space between them, and their eyes are locked together. “I realized that there was someone very important missing. You were missing, Max Hatter.”
“Oh? I’m someone important?” Max’s face does that thing where he’s trying to be sarcastic, but his voice holds the hope he’s trying to hide.
“To me? You’re the most important person in my life, just below my parents,” Chloe means every single word she’s saying, even though she knows what they’re coming off as.
It’s the truth.
She’s known it since the moment he reminded her that being perfect is stupid if it means losing the amazing person that she is.
“Chloe, are you— What do you mean by that?” Max whispers the question like it’s too important to say at any other volume.
“Max, do you think about it?” Chloe asks quietly as she raises her hand, settling it on his chest as his eyes dart down to it. “That moment? When the dust settled, and I ran into your arms with tears streaming down my face because finally there was peace. Where you rested your head against mine and everything else ceased to exist for a minute? Do you think about it, or am I the only one who can’t forget?”
His eyes close as his hand lifts to rest on the one she’s pressing into his chest. For a single moment, Chloe can’t read Max at all.
But then his voice cracks as he replies, “I think about it too much. I think about every single second of it, including when I pulled away.. I think about the look that you wore because of it.”
“Don’t let me wear that look again, Max Hatter,” it’s a plea, one she says without hesitation as she steps into him, their noses brushing yet again. “You are everything to me, you have been for a while now, and I need you to know that.”
“Chloe,” a whisper, a prayer, a plea to stop, she’s not entirely sure what he means with it. Not until Max continues speaking. “Can I kiss you?”
“Please.”
It’s the only thing she can say as her eyes fall closed, then lips press against her own, and everything fades to nothingness.
Max is kissing her, his arms wrapping firmly around her waist and tugging her completely against him.
Chloe is kissing him back, her hands sliding into his hair, holding onto his hat because she still refuses to let him lose it.
Cheers erupt somewhere in the background, that’s why Chloe slowly pulls away, but Max doesn’t let her get too far. Their noses settle together again.
“I like you, Max Hatter. A lot. Maybe even too much,” Chloe lets the confession fall from her lips because she feels so safe that her soul is resting. “Is that okay?”
“I like you too, Chloe Charming. A lot. Definitely too much. So, yeah, it’s perfectly okay. It can even be amazingly perfect, if you’ll be my girlfriend,” Max breathes the words into the space between them.
His arms, that were holding her tightly, slowly start to loosen like he thinks the answer will be no.
“I would love to,” murmurs Chloe before she presses a kiss once, twice, three times to his lips.
Fireworks erupt in the sky before Max can say anything, and they startle apart. But Chloe leans back into his space the second she realizes what’s happening, settling her head against his chest.
Together, they watch the fireworks, and tomorrow… Well, tomorrow they’ll decide what comes next.