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The sun peeked through the broken blinds on the window, adding a golden hue to the otherwise brown trailer. The light dripped over the couch, directly laying over Max’s eyes, but she did not move.
She could close her eyes, roll to the other side of the couch, just get up and move to the floor. But instead she lay still, allowing the shocking ray of light to overtake her sight. She did not have the energy to move.
She figures, in the back of her mind, that it’s probably not healthy to stare directly into a ray of light. Probably will do permanent damages to her retinas. She chuckled to herself at the thought, reminding herself how her retinas are already shattered beyond repair.
Since the battle with Vecna, most of Max’s days were spent like this. Laying haphazardly on the couch, unmoving for hours. Until her bladder screamed at her, or she felt that she would faint from starvation.
She had no motivation, no care to do anything else.
Her best friend was dead, and now she was permanently disabled. What was the fucking point.
For the first few days out of the hospital, her mom was helpful for once. But after a while, her moms alcoholic nature overtook her motherly instincts, and she pushed Max to the side in favor of the bar in town.
Sometimes it was days between when her mom came home. Max didn’t really care, it was easier to do nothing when there wasn’t a drunk nagging voice in your ear. Also, her mom being gone meant that the usually smoky air of the trailer was cleared out, and Max could breathe just a little better.
Steve helped with things like groceries, but didn’t push Max either. He usually got basic things - water, canned food, snacks. But he never pushed to come in the house, leaving the groceries on the doorstep for her.
He definitely did it more often than she needed, at one point she had enough cans of Chef Boyardee to feed an army. She appreciated the effort, though, but she would never ask him to do all that. And she would understand if he decided it was too much and stopped doing it. He hasn’t yet, though.
She could be with her friends, could be out of this place. But what was the point? She was the only one who was damaged, she didn’t want to pull them behind. Keep them from doing all of the things that they used to do.
Fuck, she couldn’t even skate anymore.
They still came a lot, the party. Banging on her door, demanding she come out and see them. They were persistent, especially Lucas. But she ignored them, locking the doors and covering the windows as much as possible so they couldn’t peer in.
She wanted to be with them, wanted to hear their laughter, to feel their warmth. But she didn’t feel like she deserved it.
But instead, she lay here. Hair tangled, teeth unbrushed. A husk of a human shell, with nothing to prove.
She misses Lucas the most, loves him the most. But he deserves a girlfriend that can go to all his games, that he can ride his bike with, take on dates without having to make sure there's disability parking.
Without her consent tears started streaming down her cheeks at the thought of what her future could have been if she wasn’t so weak, but she was too tired to blink them away.
Suddenly, abrupt loud knocks sounded at her door, startling Max - but not enough for her to shift from her position on the couch.
It was probably another party member trying to push her to come to movie night again. She will just ignore them, and eventually they will go away, like always.
The banging continued, then followed by a yelled “Max!”
Lucas. It was Lucas. Max’s breath hitched quietly, but still she refused to reply.
“Maxine Gertrude Mayfield”! He shouted, and Max sat up with an angry huff
“That’s not even my middle name, asshole!” She yelled, and Lucas laughed through the door.
“Ha! I know, but I got you to respond to me!” he yelled back proudly, and Max cursed under her breath. That fucker-
“And now, you can’t pretend you’re not there!” Lucas said happily, and Max rolled her eyes, not responding.
He was right, now she can’t pretend he’s not here. But, that doesn’t mean she has to let him in. If it were like before, Max would feign annoyance, but in reality the warm feeling of love and appreciation would bloom in her chest, and she would open the door.
Instead, she stayed sitting on the couch, trying to zone out again as she was before to drown out the insistent banging on her front door. She just wanted to go back into her mind, where she could pretend she didn’t exist, and that all these feelings were gone.
Vaguely, Max noticed that the knocking stopped. Hopefully Lucas gave up, left her alone where he will try again tomorrow. Max won’t answer, though.
Abruptly, the sun rays that were stemming through the window disappeared, and Max jumped as Lucas’ hands started banging against the glass.
“Maaaaaax! I can see you! You can’t ignore me!”
Jesus fucking Christ, this kid doesn't give up. Max can’t do this, she just can’t.
Instead, Max just pretended that she couldn’t see Lucas. Technically, she couldn’t see him, her glasses left behind on her bed. On top of the chronic pain in her legs, her vision was completely shot. She now had to wear thick framed glasses just to be able to slightly see. It pissed her the fuck off, and made her feel ugly.
Max shifted, moving to get herself up off of the couch. It took a lot of effort, the braces over her legs making standing and walking extremely difficult. It infuriated her, constantly reminded of her weakness with every step she took.
That’s why Max never really moves, she doesn’t want to deal with it. The doctors wanted her to walk more than what she does, trying to strengthen her legs. But, Max has given up on being able to walk normally again, so what’s the point in trying.
Max gripped the arm of the couch with two hands, using all of her strength to lift herself from the sitting position. She sucked in air through her teeth as she did, stinging pain shooting down her legs, resonating in her knees and ankles.
Max closed her eyes, taking a few deep breaths to ground herself. After giving herself a minute she opened her eyes again, and started slowly walking towards her bedroom.
She remembers how she used to glide through this trailer, running through the hall whenever Steve pulled in the driveway to take them to the movies. Or even when she would skate through the living room practicing tricks when her mom was out at whatever bar she was at that night.
But now, it took almost five minutes to get from the couch to her room. It was times like this where she was reminded how fucked her life was.
She shuffled down the hall slowly, her hands coming up to push on the cool walls surrounding her to help support herself as she moved. Her heart beat fast, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. With every step she took, Max just became more and more pissed, especially at Lucas for making her get up in the first place.
Eventually, she made it to the doorway of her room, Max feeling a sense of relief for finally reaching her destination. She aggressively pushed open the already slightly ajar door, only to scream when she saw Lucas laying on her bed facing the door.
“What the fuck!” She screamed, and Lucas just smiled at her cockily. She never heard him stop banging on her window, she must have been so focused on her walking that she zoned out.
He laid on his side, one hand on his hip and the other holding his head up. He jutted his thumb out behind him, pointing at Max’s bedroom window.
“You left your window open.” He said matter-of-factly. Max looked towards where he pointed and squinted her eyes, and sure enough the curtains blew into the room from the hot breeze that was let in from her open window.
Fuck, she had opened it to air out the house from her mom’s drinking and cigarette escapade last night. She must have never shut it. She huffed angrily.
“Get the fuck out Lucas” she demanded, and Lucas's sly grin turned into a serious frown.
“No, Max. I’m not leaving!” and Max rolled her eyes.
“Jesus Christ what is your problem!” She pushed, and Lucas scoffed
“My problem?! What's your problem?” Lucas yelled, and Max pushed herself to keep up her hard outside demeanor, but she could feel it cracking at Lucas’ tone.
“Fuck off” she mumbled, and Lucas shook his head.
“No Max, I’m not fucking off. I care about you, and I miss you. And I can’t keep letting you sit here by yourself!” He insisted.
Max’s legs were starting to hurt, the aches in her joints starting to sharpen, becoming more and more painful. But she was determined to not let her mask slip, let Lucas of all people see the weakness inside her.
She looked towards the wall, refusing to make eye contact with the boy she loved sitting on her bed. She heard him get up off the bed, and take a few steps towards her
“Max,” He started, much softer than the tone before. Fuck, he needed to stop being so kind to her, couldn't he see she wasn’t worth it? Another crack in the mask.
“Max, please. I miss you so much. I'm so worried about you. Please, just talk to me.” He insisted, and Max thought for a moment before shaking her head.
“Lucas, go!” she shouted, her arms shooting down to her sides, her fists clenched in anger - mainly towards herself, but Lucas didn’t need to know that
“No.” he pushed, and the frustration from before started bubbling back into Max’s chest.
“Lucas-”
“Fuck off, Max. No” He said, and he gently pushed her shoulders forwards, emphasizing his point.
Pissed, Max turned quickly towards Lucas ready to tell him off. She forgot though, in her anger, that her legs were minutes away from buckling. When she turned, her knees painfully gave out, and she started to fall.
Her vision being so blurry made the fall so much scarier than it should’ve, so she let out a yelp anticipating the painful impact of her body and the hardwood floor.
Before she reached the ground, though, warm hands surrounded her waist gripping her tightly. Lucas twisted with Max's body, but before either of them dropped he bent his knees and braced his foot, instead lifting Max up off the ground.
Max couldn’t see, only felt the movement that was going on around her. It was disorienting, but at the same time, she acknowledged in her mind that Lucas’ firm hands made her feel safer than she has in a long time.
Lucas shifted his grip on Max, and when the world stopped spinning Max realized that Lucas was now holding her bridal style. Vaguely, it reminded her of the fight with Vecna and the demodogs, and how tightly Lucas held her while protecting her.
Lucas and Max breathed heavily, and eventually Lucas’ face shifted into focus. Lucas looked at her, his eyes wide with shock and concern.
“Max! Are you okay?” Lucas asked worriedly, and suddenly Max realized that a lump was forming in her throat.
Fucking Lucas. He was so caring, so loving. He just broke into her house, and caught her when she fell, all because he was worried about her. It made Max emotional, because she didn’t feel she deserved it.
She was so worried that she would hold Lucas back, keep him distant from such a bright future ahead of him. How could he be successful with a girl like him? A girl who can’t even walk from the living room and stand in her bedroom without needing him to catch her.
She had dreams like that, dreams of being successful with him - of marrying him. Now she was scared that she wouldn’t even be able to walk down the aisle.
She fucking hated herself, she wishes she would’ve just fucking died when Vecna first got to her.
Without her consent, tears started to well in her eyes. She tried to hold back a sob, but it escaped her anyway, forming a broken, guttural cry. Lucas’ deep brown eyes shifted back and forth between Max’s blue ones, his eyebrows furrowing in concern.
“Oh, baby” He gasped out, and the dam that Max had spent weeks building up broke. Her mask shattered, and she started sobbing. She curled her arms around Lucas’ neck, grasping him tightly as if he were a life raft in an unforgiving sea. And in a way, he was.
Lucas cooed at her, squeezing her before moving back towards the bed. He sat down on the edge of her mattress, not letting go of Max’s delicate frame. He stayed a hold of her, but maneuvered her so that she was sitting better in his lap, him being mindful of her knees.
He held Max tightly, letting her burrow her face into his neck and cry. He rubbed her back encouragingly, whispering soft praises in her ear.
“Let it out, baby. It’s okay - I have you.” he encouraged, and the soft words just made Max cry harder.
She just - she was so pissed . She fucking hated being useless, hated being disabled. She knew she had friends, had Lucas, but not being able to see, to move, made her feel that she couldn’t even appreciate them.
She just felt like a burden, like she was so behind everyone else. She just wanted to go back to the way things used to be, to skate and bike and play at the arcade.
She missed El. She wanted to go shopping, hang out at the cabin to read comic books and have more sleepovers.
At the thought of her best friend, her sobs came out harder - tears soaking Lucas’ shirt and snot dripping from her nose. Lucas shushed her quietly, but Max knew he wasn’t telling her to stop, just soothing her.
They sat like that for a while, Lucas holding Max while the weeks full of tears that she had been holding back finally seeped through her. Eventually, her sobs slowed, and her tears eventually stopped.
She gave herself a minute to catch her breath before looking back up at Lucas, his eyes already staring deeply at her, a small sad smile forming at the corner of his lips.
He brought one of his hands to the side of her face, gently cradling her jaw and rubbing his cheek with her thumb.
“Hi, baby. Do you feel a little better?” He said lowly, almost if he spoke too loud Max would cry again.
Max nodded shyly, starting to feel embarrassed.
“I’m sorry”, she apologized, whispering. Lucas’ brows furrowed, and he shook his head
“Max, please don’t apologize. I’ve been waiting for this for weeks.” he admitted, and Max looked at him confused.
“You’ve waited for me to cry?” She pushed, and Lucas scoffed lightly, a small smile tugging on his lips.
“Kinda. More like I’ve been waiting for you to talk to me, tell me how you’ve been feeling. ‘Cause I know you’re not doing good.”
Max shifted, going to sit next to the bed instead of on top of Lucas’ lap. She played with the tag on the end of Lucas’s basketball shorts, refusing to look back up at him.
“Well fucking obviously, Lucas. I can’t fucking walk.” She huffed out, annoyed with Lucas’ matter-of-fact tone.
“No Max-” Lucas rolled his eyes “Not your fucking legs. I mean your feelings , how you're dealing with everything.” Max scoffed, peering up at him angrily.
“Im fucking fine” she pushed, and Lucas stared at her, deadpan. Max rolled her eyes.
“Okay, so I’m not fucking fine. I’m just frustrated, I can’t do anything. So I just stay in here, that's all.” Max explained, half-ass. What she said was true, it just wasn’t the whole truth - and she hoped it would be enough to satisfy Lucas’ prodding.
She knows that she just balled her eyes out in his neck, but she can’t put more on him. She can’t speak all of her thoughts, it's too much. She’s too much.
“Okay, I get that. It is frustrating. But Max, you can do things, and I don’t believe that that's all there is that's keeping you in here.” Lucas said, and Max was getting more and more annoyed. Why couldn’t Lucas just get the fucking hint and leave her alone?
“Jesus Lucas, why can’t you just fucking drop it! I already just fucking cried, isn’t that fucking enough?!” Max yelled, her voice getting louder with each word.
“Because, Max! I can’t keep watching you fucking kill yourself!” Lucas yelled back, but his voice broke. Max’s eyes widened, taken aback
“Wha-what are you talking about?” Max asked, genuinely confused. Yeah, maybe she didn’t move from the fucking couch, but she wasn’t slitting her wrists or anything fucking stupid.
Lucas scoffed, rolling his eyes before taking his hand and rubbing it down his face in annoyance.
“Jesus Max, I’m not fucking stupid. I know you’re not eating, not taking care of yourself. Jesus Max, you’re bone thin! You don’t get out of the house, I doubt your drinking water - I already held your dead body once Max don’t make me fucking do it again!” Lucas was shouting now, but there were tears forming in his eyes, clearly distraught.
Max was shocked, and pangs of hurt beat against her chest knowing she was putting Lucas in more pain. She wanted to do the opposite, she pushed everyone away because she didn’t want to burden them.
“I-I wasn’t-I’m not killing myself Lucas. I mean-I’m not, I didn’t realize-” Max didn’t know how to put her thoughts into words. How do you explain to your boyfriend that you didn’t realize you were killing yourself? And that, no - you didn’t necessarily want to die, just wanted the pain to stop.
The anger in Lucas’ eyes softened, he reached a hand out to grasp Max's own.
“Max, you know that you’re hurting yourself, right?” He asked softly, and Max shook her head
“I’m not - I’m not like cutting, or burning myself or whatever stupid shit depressed people do. And its not like I want to kill myself, or like planning on it or whatever.” Max explained, and Lucas slowly nodded his head, trying to process this information.
His hand squeezed Max’s, “Babe, I hear you. But just because you aren’t doing it on purpose doesn’t mean you’re not doing it.”
He gave Max a moment to process what he was saying before he continued, a charged silence befalling them.
“Max, I love you. So much - and I know you’re in pain. But you’re sad, baby. You’re depressed, and I need you to realize that. Because maybe it's selfish, but I need you. I can’t lose you again.” He begged, and the tears that were forming in his eyes finally fell.
Max looked up at him, and reached her hand to wipe the tears away with her thumb. Lucas smiled sadly, reaching up to gently grab her hand to keep it held against his face, turning and kissing her palm.
Max let out a soft chuckle, muttering a soft “so cheesy” under her breath.
“I’m sorry, Lucas. I know it sounds stupid, and I’m not fucking stupid - I guess I just, didn’t even realize what I was doing. Like, I knew, but I didn’t know, if that makes any fucking sense.” Max tried to explain, again hard for her to put her thoughts into words.
But Lucas nodded, getting it. He always understood Max, even when she didn’t use her words.
What a dick Max thought lovingly.
“It’s okay, I understand. But now that you know, please, will you let us help you?” Lucas begged, and Max bit her lip in thought.
No, she didn’t want to be depressed. Didn’t want to harm herself, didn’t want to die. But just talking about it - putting a name to it, it didn’t take away the reasons why.
“I just - I don't want - I cant burden you guys.” Max explained
“Max, you understand that you’re not the only one affected like this, right? I mean, mentally.” Lucas explained, and Max cocked her head at him.
“What do you mean?” She asked, and Lucas looked up sighing. He looked blankly towards the wall before explaining.
“Well, I mean we are all pretty shook up. Mike - he’s not doing great. He tries to hold it together, ya know? Like always, but I can tell he’s not sleeping. Nancy told Steve he was having nightmares, keeps him up at night.” Lucas started explaining
Max’s eyes widened again. Mike - albeit an annoying son of a bitch, was pretty strong, could hold his own. He knew he would be in mourning like the rest of them, but didn’t think it would cause other issues.
“Will - fuck, Max. I really wish you would talk to Will.” Lucas started, using his thumb and forefinger to rub his eyes in frustration.
“He’s not doing good. He started doing what you are, isolating himself. Hiding away in the cabin. But his mom and Jonathan forced him out of the house, got him into therapy. But, he doesn’t really talk. It’s like he’s not there. He comes to hang out, watch movies with us. But he just, like, sits there. It's really hurting Mike, too, because Will won't even talk to him.”
Max’s eyes softened. She figured Will would have a tough time, but she knew he had a good family - had what she didn’t. So, she didn’t think that he would struggle as much. Especially because he had Mike, that stubborn bastard. She didn’t think he would let Will suffer.
“But, Mike doesn’t wanna push Will. I keep trying to get him to talk to Will, tell him how he feels. But he won't, he’s scared.” Lucas looked back down to Max.
“And I’m scared, too Max. I’m so scared that the party is falling apart. I’m scared that fucking no one is talking to me, I can’t fucking help anyone. Please Max, fucking please let me help you. Please”. Lucas was begging, pleading with Max.
The tears that Max had tried to suck back into her body started to emerge again, her eyes starting to hurt with the effort it took to hold them back.
“Lucas, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just-” Max stopped herself, doubting the vulnerability. But she looked at the pleading look Lucas made, his deep brown eyes expressing desperation. She never could resist those eyes.
“I just wanted to not burden you. I’m disabled, Lucas. I know there’s things you want to do, and I just can’t do them anymore. I don't want to stop you, stop our friends. I already caused so many issues with the battle, being in the coma. I can’t keep causing more problems.” Max explained, and the tears started flowing again.
She used the sleeve of her hoodie to wipe aggressively at the tears and the snot, feeling frustrated at herself that she keeps crying. Lucas smiled at her sadly.
“I mean, fuck Lucas, how am I supposed to marry you if I cant even walk down the aisle?” she sobbed out, and Lucas’s eyes widened, brows furrowed.
“Max-baby, I know you have a hard time, but you could never hold me back - ever. There's nowhere I want to go - nothing I want to do, that doesn’t involve you.” He reassured, wrapping his arm around Max's shoulder and squeezing tightly.
“And Max, you can get better. You might never be perfect, but maybe one day you won't even need the leg braces. Are you going to physical therapy?” He questioned, and Max shook her head.
“I went the first couple times. But my mom stopped taking me, and it’s not like I could fucking walk there.” Max noted, frustrated
“Max!” Lucas gasped “You need to go to those! Why didn’t you ask Steve to take you? He questioned, Max shrugging
“Didn’t wanna bother him” Max noted sheepishly, and Lucas tsked at her.
“Dude, I think if you asked him to drive you he’d literally jump for joy.” he said, and Max laughed at the thought of it. Truly, Lucas was probably right.
“I guess- I guess I’m just scared that I won’t make progress. Like, I don’t wanna go there with all this hope and then there like ‘Just kidding, you’re fucked!’, ya know?” Max explained and Lucas nodded.
“I get it, but you’ll never know if you don’t try” Lucas started, before putting his fists on his hips like a superhero, puffing out his chest.
“Never give up, never surrender and rise up against the odds." He said in a weird inspirational voice, and Max rolled her eyes
“Alright Jesse Jackson, ease up there” Max laughed, and Lucas laughed with her. He lifted his hand to the back of her neck, rubbing soothingly.
“So? What do you say? Will you let us help you? Let me help you?” Lucas asked, and Max looked up at him.
Fuck, Max wouldn’t ever admit it, but she was scared. How could she move forwards now? How is she supposed to live a life like this?
Lucas looked at her expectantly. Max could see how hopeful he was, and how much he loved her. And she would be damned to make him cry again.
So, she nodded hesitantly. “Yeah, yeah. I mean I’ll try.” She said, and Lucas’ face split in a wide grin. He wrapped his arms around her, squeezing tightly, almost uncomfortably, but she just laughed.
“Yes! Yesyesyes! I knew it was a good idea to break in!” Lucas yelled, and Max laughed harder.
“You’re such an ass.” she chuckled. Lucas loosened his grip a little, but still held her. She looked at him, and he was still smiling, and God wasn’t she so lucky to have a man like this?
Without hesitating, she pushed up to connect her lips with his. He made an ‘oomph’ sound, shocked for a second, before melting into the kiss. She wrapped her hands around his neck, pulling him impossibly closer.
She missed this, missed Lucas. The warmth he gave off, the sturdy presence that he provided. And with the way Lucas was gripping her, she was certain he missed her too.
They broke apart, but leaned against eachother, foreheads against eachother. And as if he was reading her mind, he whispered.
“God, I missed you so much.”
Max smiled, deeply “I missed you more.”
Lucas sat back up, leaning back behind him to grab something that Max could obviously not see.
He turned back to her, and Max saw that she grabbed her stupid fucking glasses. Gently, he put them over her nose, before grabbing her hair and fixing it over the sides, making sure her strands weren’t stuck underneath the arms. Even though the glasses were ugly, and she felt so ugly in them, he looked at her the same, with the most love.
“Now, my beautiful girl. Let’s take care of you, like you deserve.” he said, and Max smiled, nodding.
“Okay.” she agreed, feeling hopeful.
—
Lucas shifted nervously from one foot to another, shaking his hands at his sides. His necktie felt like it was choking him, and Jesus it was fucking hot in here.
“Dude, Chill!” Dustin said to him, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder and smiling knowingly.
“I’m trying! I’m fucking nervous!”
He looked beside him, Dustin right next to him, followed by Mike and Will. They smiled at him reassuringly, Will giving him a thumbs up. He was glad he had them by his side for this, he always could rely on them when needed.
Suddenly, the sound of violins started playing overhead, and Lucas took a deep breath, turning forwards.
The doors of the church opened, and Holly started down the aisle, Max’s maid of honor. She made her way slowly down, smiling large in excitement. Lucas chuckled at her, she had really become a major part of Max and his life, practically a little sister at this point.
She was followed by Erica, who stuck her tongue out at Lucas, but then smiled at him knowingly.
Lastly, Nancy walked, but rather than holding a bouquet - she held a picture frame. The picture inside was of El, her smiling face shining through the glass. Max wanted her to be a part of this, and he felt that this was a great way of doing it.
He felt himself start to choke up, thinking about how much he missed El as well, wishing she were here.
The bridesmaids took their spot parallel to Lucas and his groomsmen, but before Nancy took her spot she set down Els' picture in an empty seat in the front row, her smiling face facing towards him. She was right next to Hopper and Joyce, and almost like on instinct Hopper wrapped his arm around the back of the empty chair.
Lucas smiled at him, and Hopper smiled back, nodding in acknowledgment.
Suddenly, the violins changed, soon the tune of ‘Here Comes the Bride’ starting. Lucas took another big breath to steady himself, but the air whooshed out of him when Max rounded the corner.
She wore a simple a-line gown, the lights shining off the silky fabric. Her hair was down, her long wavy locks covering the thin straps of her dress. She held a bouquet of white lilies in one hand, her other arm wrapped around Steves as he walked down with her.
She looked straight ahead and smiled widely at Lucas, and he swears her eyes literally sparkled. She was wearing her contacts, and he remembered how excited Max was when her optometrist approved them for her. He thought she looked adorable with her glasses, but he did appreciate being able to see her blue eyes more clearly now.
They made their way down the aisle slowly, and the tears that started forming in Lucas’ eyes before finally fell, cascading down his cheek.
He and Max stared into each other as she walked, and it felt like it was only the two of them in the entire church, the entire world even.
Slowly, Steve and Max made their way to him, and Max looked up at Steve, who smiled softly. Lucas realized that Steve was also crying, and Lucas smiled at the two of them, glad that Max finally has the father that she deserves.
Steve kissed Max’s cheek softly, before turning to Lucas and nodding to him, and somehow Lucas knew he was saying “Proud of you, Sinclair - don’t fuck it up.”
Steve took his seat next to Robin, who smiled and rubbed his shoulders in support.
Max gave her bouquet to Holly, before finally turning towards Lucas. She was smiling so widely, the happiest he has ever seen her, and he felt the same. They joined hands, but when Max realized he was crying, she made a small ‘aw’ sound and took one of her hands to wipe the tear before putting her hand back into his.
The priest drawled on, but Max and Lucas were in their own world. They stared into each other's eyes longingly, silently communicating the excitement to start the rest of their lives together.
They exchanged rings, the bright gold band looking absolutely magical against Max’s pale skin. It looked like it belonged there. Finally, the priest got to the end.
“Lucas Sinclair, do you take Maxine Mayfield to be your lawfully wedded wife?” Lucas smiled brightly, and without a shadow of a doubt responded “Yes!”, making Max chuckle
“And do you, Maxine Mayfield, take Lucas Sinclair to be your lawfully wedded husband?” Max smiled widely, and Lucas saw her eyes start to mist, but knew not to comment on it, not wanting to embarrass her.
“I do” She said, and Lucas let out a breath that he didn’t know he was holding. Max lifted an eyebrow at him, smirking.
“What, you think I’d say no?” She asked, and he as well as the rest of the church laughed before the priest continued.
“By the powers vested in me by the state of Indiana, I now pronounce you husband and wife!” he turned to Lucas “You may now kiss your bride”
“Gladly” Lucas said before slipping a hand to Max’s waist, the other to the back of her head and kissing her deeply. Behind them, a chorus of cheers and whoops sounded, but Lucas and Max focused only on themselves, and the feeling of their lips against each other.
They parted, leaning foreheads against each other. They stared into each other's eyes, laughing lightly and Lucas squeezed Max’s hip tightly.
“I knew you could do it” He whispered to her, and Max stared at him, a look of deep appreciation spread across her face.
“Thanks to you, I can do anything.” She said, and he smiled before kissing his wife.