TITLE: It Is Well With My Soul
AUTHOR: Brittney
EMAIL: pinkfloydian7@yahoo.com
STATUS: 1/6 Complete; Sequel
RATING: NC-17
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the characters or premise. No money is being made from this work.
PAIRINGS: Max/OFC
NOTES: This is a sequel to Behold My Heart. It is recommended you read that first, or this may not make sense.

Chapter One: Max and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good Very Bad Day

I looked around the apartment with satisfaction before collapsing on the couch. The whole apartment was spotless. I had spent the day cleaning and was very tired. I was dressed in my ragged, old cleaning clothes and had my hair back in a ponytail. I sat down on the couch, dropping my cleaning rag next to me. I decided to take a nap before Max came home from work.

I took a peek at the clock. 9:00 PM. I opened my eyes wider and blinked. He was late. This wasn't like him. He always walked briskly from work to come home and hold me in his arms. I sat up and leaned my head back, letting out a sigh. I was worried.

I told myself that worrying would do no good and that I should rest, being much more tired lately then usual. I ran my mind back to remind myself why.

Three weeks after I met Max he asked me to move in with him. I heartily agreed, but it took a while for me to get a day off to move my stuff, not to mention renting a truck to haul it all in. Finally, when it got to be my day off, I got a phone call that informed me I was going to be laid off. This news made me very angry, but sad at the same time. I needed a job. I was going to help Max pay the rent, of course, when I moved in with him. Now I had no way of doing so. But, I figured I could use the time move, and did so slowly. I borrowed Jenna's car to take my things to the apartment. It took a few days.

After I moved my things, Max and I had to move all of his things around before I could put my things away. But the apartment was by no means cramped after we got everything in it's place because neither of us really owned much. We did however get rid of his couch and replaced it with mine. His couch was old and threadbare while mine was comfortable enough to nap on.

A knock at the door caused me to spring awake. I had fallen asleep while remembering the tiring moving process. I sleepily got up and opened the door. It was Max. He looked pale and sick.

"What's wrong?" I asked, pulling him inside.

He collapsed in my arms and hugged me a long time before talking, "This has been, without a doubt, the most horrible day of my life."

I led him to the couch and we sat down together. He took his shirt off and leaned onto my breasts, closed his eyes. I ran my hand through his hair, which was a mess, and spoke to him calmly. "It's okay now, you're here with me. Tell me what happened today."

"Well," he sighed sleepily. "I'm sure you know about the first thing that happened: waking up late. I forgot my wallet, so I didn't have money to ride the bus to get there quicker. So I was really late to work, I got hit on by more guys than usual, and the guys from the band came there and said they wanted to talk to me after I got off of work. I went over there after work, which is a long walk, and tried to call you, but the phone had been cut off. They ended up telling me that they didn't want me in the band anymore. So I gave them all a piece of my mind and stormed out. I realized I left my keys at work and by the time I walked back there the place had already closed. Then I had to walk back home. It's been absolutely awful."

I kissed the top of his head and hugged him closer, assuring that tomorrow would be better. Then he told me he knew it would be better because he didn't have to work. I smiled and rubbed his arm slowly to relax him. He let out a small moan.

"How do you always know what will make me feel better?" He said dreamily, looking up into my eyes and smiling weakly.

"Because I love you," I said, drawing him into a deep kiss. His hands began to wander my body. He tilted me backward and began to lower himself down on top of me. After a few minutes he broke the embrace and said, "I'm sorry, but I'm just too tired for this tonight."

"Don't worry," I smiled wickedly. "You don't have to do anything. After all, a hard-working young man like yourself deserves a break when he's tired. Just sit up and lean back, I've got a surprise for you. And if you think I help you feel better, just wait and see what I've got planned next."