Claudia entered the apartment her younger brother shared with his girlfriend, but was surprised to not hear her niece screaming or seeing baby toys and clothes strewn all over the place, instead the apartment was dark with empty liquor bottles strewn all over the floor, and her brother, who should be basking in fatherhood was practically passed out on the couch. Worried about his welfare Claudia ran to his side and began pushing him awake.

"John, wake up"

Johnny stirred slightly with a groan, "Uhh… what?!"

Claudia persisted, "Wake up… what's wrong with you… where are Maxie and the baby?"

Johnny rose slightly rubbing his eyes, "She uh… left me"

Claudia walked into the kitchen and appeared again with a bottle water and some aspirin, "Here, take these"

Johnny swallowed the pills and downed the water. Claudia watched patiently, "So why did she leave?"

Johnny fell onto the back of the couch as he waited for the pain reliever to take effect, "She figured out it was me who ordered the hit on our father… she said she needed time to sort things out"

Claudia sighed, "I see… she knew what our lives were like and she knew you would do anything to keep her and the baby safe why is she acting like this is something new?"

Johnny shrugged, "I guess she just didn't think I would actually kill my own father"

Claudia shook her head, "Well you can't sit around sulking… either get your family back or move on, Maxie isn't going to want some self pitying loser, she wants someone who will fight for her and their family… so get up, go shower and get your family back!"

Johnny was about to roll his eyes and do as his sister told him when he heard Maxie's sweet voice come from the doorway, "Johnny?"

She peeked her head around the door and saw him with Claudia on the couch. She slowly entered the apartment, "Hey"

"Hey"

Claudia could tell they had a lot to discuss, "You know I have some more arrangements to make. I'll call you later John… love you"

Johnny nodded, "Love you"

Claudia quickly made her exit as Maxie stood by the fireplace not moving, "How are you?"

Johnny nodded, "I'm fine… how is Georgie doing?"

Maxie smiled, "She's good, and Mac is loving being able to dote on her night and day… I almost feel like he would rather I leave and he will just raise her"

Johnny smiled, he knew Mac loved his granddaughter to death and loved taking care of her since all his other girls were grown. "Did you need to get more stuff?"

Maxie sat at the opposite end of the couch from Johnny, "Actually I came to talk to you… I have been thinking ever since we left"

Johnny nodded, "And… can you forgive me for what I did?"

Maxie sighed, "I'm not upset about you ordering the hit, your father was warned and he needed to be dealt with and I know the world you were raised in. What scared me is that if anyone found out you were behind your father's hit you would be arrested and put in jail for the rest of your life, if you didn't get the death penalty and I don't want that. Georgie needs her father… and I need you too… I love you Johnny"

Johnny's head snapped up to her now tear filled eyes, "You love me?"

Maxie nodded, "I do and I don't want to lose you"

Johnny smiled, "I love you too and I would never do anything that would cost me you guys. I made sure that nothing would lead back to me, I have way too much to lose"

Maxie smiled and she moved closer to him, "So no more risking your life?"

Johnny smiled back pushing the hair out of her face, "No more, I signed everything but my trust fund to Claudia and I'm going to use the money my father gave me to open a bike shop"

Maxie smiled as she kissed him passionately moving to straddle his lap. Johnny loved the kiss but his curiosity got the better of him, "Just out of curiosity why does Mac think you came to stay with him, because I doubt you told him the truth"

Maxie shrugged, "I just pulled the 'I missed you daddy and wanted to spend sometime with you' card and he fell for it"

Johnny laughed as he shook his head, "You're so bad"

Maxie's eyebrows rose questioningly, "Do you want to be bad with me… I can talk Mac into keeping Georgie for the night while we 'make-up' "

Johnny smiled as he kissed her neck, "Make the call… we have a lot of making up to do"

Maxie scurried of his lap and grabbed her cell phone, "Hey dad can you keep Georgie tonight I just need a night to relax… okay… thank you so much… I'll be there first thing in the morning… love you too… give Georgie a kiss for me… bye"

Maxie turned and smiled at him, "So where were we?"

Johnny pounced on her sweeping her into his arms as he carried her to their bedroom to make love for the first time since they conceived their daughter.