Touched & Attracted

Of course I love you, it’s just a rough time right now. That had been her answer when Alex asked her, and he had accepted that. Because it was the truth. It was a rough time for them.

Alex had been over to Ed and asked if he could take care of Tigerlily for one more night, and Ed promised he would do that. Alex had a show in Baltimore today. A last minute concert they had promised their hometown. Max was going to come with him and they were going to show the world that they had not separated.

Alex walked in through the door and he got a surprise when he walked in and saw that she had dyed her hair. It was black, or a very dark brown, and she looked at him and gave him a small smile.
"I like you better in dark hair" he said and smiled at her. He also handed her a plastic bag with clothes, and she looked a bit confused.
"I guess a lot of things for you are kinda too big right now, so I bought a new pair of ripped jeans to you and a tank" he said and nodded. Max got into the new jeans and they sat like her usual skinny jeans. Or at least like her old ones used to. She looked at herself in the mirror and got surprised over how skinny she really was.
"How far are you into the pregnancy?" Alex asked and looked at her as she stood there in jeans and a bra.
"11+5" she said.
"Eleven what?" he asked.
"Eleven weeks and five days" she said and looked at him.
"With twins? But you’re barely showing" he said and stared at her. She turned to her side and he raised an eyebrow. You could see a belly. It wasn’t big, but you could see it if she stood like that.
"You’ve gotten so thin" he whispered. Even though she was pregnant you could see ribs, hipbones and collarbones. She turned to face him and wrapped her arms around herself. He sighed and walked up to her and took her hands, and removed her arms.
"Don’t hide" he said.
"I feel disgusting. I used to have curves and now… I’m just bones" she said.
"You’ll gain weight soon enough" he whispered and leaned his forehead against hers.

Max was dressed in the skinny jeans, her new tank and her Dr. Martens. Alex handed her one of his hoods when he saw that she shivered a little. She smiled and put it on. Then with trembling hands he held out the next thing. She looked at him and wondered what it was, and then he opened p his hands and revealed her wedding ring. She looked at it for a second and then she took it, and slowly placed it on her finger.
"Come on, we don’t want to be late to your show" she said and he nodded.

- - -

Alex stopped the car and they both got out, and he could hear a few fans screaming in the distance.
"Are you ready for this?" he asked and looked at her. She pulled up the hood and put on her glasses, and nodded. Even if she was scared she could do it. Because she had Alex by her side. He held out his hand and she took it, and they interlocked their fingers. Alex took a deep breath and then they walked towards the crowd and the venue. The fans looked at Max and then they heard booing.
"YOU SHOULD BE WITH MAX" someone called and Alex stopped and stared at them. He was a bit surprised they yelled at him, but at the same time not. Max took off her sunglasses and glared at them, and they shut up. They stared at her for a moment, and then Max squeezed Alex hand and dragged him to continue inside the venue.

Jack and the others got surprised to see Max and Alex, together. But Jack smiled and gave her a hug. She gave him a weak smile and pulled down the hood from her hoodie. Alex glanced at her and the others was looking up and down her body.
"I heard from Ed that you got sick, but this.. this is worse than I thought" Jack said and looked at her legs. Max swallowed and looked at Alex.
"We should tell them" Alex said.
"Tell us what?" Rian asked.
"Yeah, what?" Zack asked.
"I’m not sick, it’s just… severe morning sickness" she said. Jack stared at her.
"You’re preggo again?" he asked.
"I had no idea at first, and then when Ed forced me to the hospital I found out" Max said.
"Tell them the major thing" Alex chuckled.
"There’s more?" Zack asked.
"The reason I have severe morning sickness is because I’m having twins" Max said and swallowed nervously. They stared at her, then at Alex and then at her again.
"YES" Jack shouted out and raised his hand in a victory gesture.
"What?" Alex asked.
"Then we get one baby each" Jack said, and they all bursted out laughing.

He stood on stage and was just about to start singing the song “Too Much” for the first time in ages. then he came to a part that just made him stop.
"And sleeping alone is starting to break me down. It’s cold, but I should have known. I admit I made a few mistakes, babe” he sang before he just stopped. He held the microphone and stared down at the crowd, then at his own feet. The whole room got quiet and he saw that both Zack and Jack stared at him.
"Sorry… I can’t do this" he said and dropped everything, and walked off stage.
"Alex?" Jack called but Alex just shook his head and walked away.