| posted on 7-May-2002 5:23:24 AM by Ashton |
Banner is courtesy of: http://fallenskies.enacre.net Rope the Wind Sequel to Kiss the Flame Disclaimer: I don’t own anything Roswell, GH, M/L, J/B Rating: Ya’ll know me…probably just PG-13, but who knows? Couple: Who else?? M/L of course! Summary: Sequel to Kiss the Flame. Seriously complicated so it really would be best to read that one first. BUT…Max has asked Liz (Kendall) to marry and she said yes, then proceeded to disappear to L.A. to start a brand new life under the name Rachel Harris. Hey all!! Just wanted to at least start this to let you know there IS hope for M/L.  Thanks again for all your support! Hope you enjoy! Would LOVE to hear what you think!!!
BehrHugs, Ashton ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ chapter 1 ~ I should have said no. That one thought had awakened her every day for the past two months. Every morning, except this morning. This morning it was the smell of fresh brewed coffee that first called her from the depths of slumber. Sizzling bacon, fresh tropical fruit and newly baked croissants made her stomach rumble faintly with hunger as she began to leisurely, reluctantly stretch herself awake. The sound of glass clinking against glass and the metallic sound of silverware scraping together caused her nose to scrunch up in annoyance. Shifting in her bed and burrowing further into her pillow, she tried her best to hang on to the last sweet peaceful strands of sleep before facing the cold, harsh world of reality. As consciousness started to steal her dreams, she smiled deeply in remembrance. The dream had been wonderful this time. Full of laughter and smiles. Blue skies and warmth. Kisses and hugs. And Max Evans’ loving arms wrapped possessively around her. Liz Parker frowned in her semi-state of sleep as that familiar thought drifted to her once again. I should have said no. Her awakening senses heard the soft click of a door closing and Liz let out a groan of regret. It was time to get up. No use fighting it anymore. Slowly opening one eye to look at the blurry red numbers on her clock next to her bed, the intent was to determine just how much she’d overslept this time. Both eyes instantly popped open at the sight that greeted her instead. Liz sat up straight in bed. She rubbed her eyes and looked at her nightstand again. She blinked, shook her head and looked yet again. An electric thrill raced through her body while her heart literally stopped mid-beat. A brilliant, involuntary smile spread over her face. Chest rising and falling with quickening breaths, she reached out and touched the vision in front of her. It was a simple thing. Silly, actually. Even…juvenile. But the gesture whispered special meanings that made Liz’s heart skip a disbelieving beat. As she hugged the recently acquired stuffed wolf to her chest, Liz’s gaze fell next on the large vase of flowers it had been leaning against. Every kind of flower with every imaginable color greeted her hungry gaze. Wildflowers of every variety caught the sunlight streaming through the window and gaze Liz an inescapable feeling of hope. Liz bit her lower lip and reached out to take the card from its holder. Holding an excited breath, her bright eyes scanned the words… My Little Red Riding Hood, Our first ‘morning after’…the way it should have been. Follow the petals for more… Immediately energized, Liz threw her feet over the side of the bed to land on a soft carpet of flower petals starting at her nightstand and leading straight out of her room. An unexpected chuckle escaped her as her toes dug into the velvety softness beneath her feet. Walking as if in a dream, she followed nature’s path out her door, down the hall and into the kitchen. Dark eyes widened and her mouth dropped open when she saw the feast spread along the counter. Foods of every type were displayed. Eggs, fruit, pancakes, waffles. Juices and coffee. Pastries of every kind. In the center of all the food was a black tape player with a note taped on top that said “Push Play if you dare”. Unsure of what she’d hear when she followed the instructions, Liz bit her lip in uncertainty and stared at the player in complete indecision. It was the ‘if you dare’ that kept her hands firmly clutching the wolf in her arms. She jumped when her roommate, Sydney Bristow stumbled into the living room with a sleepy yawn. Oblivious to the current state of their kitchen, Sydney ran her fingers through her rumpled hair and tried to wipe the sleep out of her eyes. “Morning, Liz. Man, the way things are going lately I won’t have to worry about some enemy agent killing me, jet lag’s going to bring me down all on it’s…Oh my God.” Liz turned to Sydney in time to catch the same expression she imagined was her face only moments before. Her eyes were wide with wonder and her mouth was open and practically salivating at the feast before her. Turning inquiring brown eyes on Liz, Sydney’s dimples deepened when she grinned. “Did we wake up in restaurant heaven or something here?” “Uh…well…” “Hey, what’s this?” Ever curious, Sydney immediately noticed the tape player with the note attached. She ripped the note off the top and read it aloud. “Press play if you dare? Hmmm…sounds intriguing…” “Wait. Don’t…” Too late to hear Liz’s protest, Sydney pushed play. The apartment was immediately filled with the Latin pop sounds of Enrique Iglesias. Sydney’s grin widened as she began to move her body to the rhythm. “Oh, yeah…Enrique! I love him!” She grabbed up a pastry and shoved it into her mouth as she danced around the back of the counter to get herself a glass of juice. Liz stood clutching the stuffed wolf to her chest as her heart pounded with each beat and danced to every word. You can run, you can hide But you can't escape my love Here's how it goes, you and me, up and down at this time We'll get right, worth a fight Cause love is something you can't shake When it breaks All it takes is some trying If you feel like leaving I'm not gonna make you stay Soon you'll be finding You can run, you can hide But you can't escape my love You can run, you can hide But you can't escape my love So if you go You should know It's hard to just forget the past It was good, it was bad but it was real And that's all you get in the end our love matters Here's how it goes All it takes is some trying You can run, you can hide But you can't escape my love As Enrique’s smooth voice began to fade, Sydney glanced up at Liz to find her rooted to the same spot she’d been when the song started. Her gaze was locked on the tape player and tears were hovering on her lashes, dangerously close to falling. Her breath hitched and the wolf in her arms received a death-grip hold in response. “Whoa.” Sydney’s immediate concern shadowed her eyes. “Liz…what’s wrong?” “He’s…he’s…” A tear slipped down her cheek and Liz reached up to quickly swipe it away. “He’s….what?” Now standing in front of Liz, Sydney reached out and touched Liz’s arm. “Liz, who are you talking about?” “Max.” “Max?” Shaking her head Sydney tried to get Liz to relax her hold on the stuffed animal in her arms. “Who’s Max?” Swallowing hard, Liz’s haunted gaze raised to meet Sydney’s. “The most…amazing…and I…I left him. And now…now, he’s found me and…” Her voice dropped to a whisper full of dread. “…oh, my God, how am I going to face him now?” Leaving Sydney speechless and confused, Liz pulled back from her and headed toward her room muttering her own cryptic answer. “Alex. I need to talk to Alex. He’ll know what to do…” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Ok. So, who is Max? And how is it he managed to slip by my security system to deliver flowers and breakfast to Liz?” Sydney caught the way Vaughn stiffened at the name and her curiosity grew by leaps and bounds. “Vaughn? What’s going on that you’ve not told me?” Vaughn scrutinized Sydney’s expression a moment trying to decide how much of Liz’s recent past to reveal. If Liz hadn’t even mentioned Max’s name to Sydney yet, there had to be a reason. “What has Liz told you?” Sydney rolled her eyes. “You’re kidding right? I didn’t even hear the guy’s name till this morning when she pretty much freaked out about him finding her. And as soon as she did, she locked herself in her room and tied up the phone line for about forty five minutes. After which time she rushed out of the apartment with this frantic look on her face and barely a word of good bye let alone an explanation.” Crossing her arms in front of her, Sydney gaze Vaughn a pointed look. “Come on, Vaughn, talk to me. Is he dangerous? Is he connected to Chris somehow? Is this something I’m going to have to worry about?” Vaughn actually…chuckled. “Dangerous? Well, now, that all depends on whether you’re his friend or his enemy.” Sydney let out an impatient sigh. “Vaughn…” “Look. This is really Liz’s story to tell. All I can say is he is most definitely not associated with the like of Chris Santoro. You, personally, have absolutely nothing to worry about from Max Evans.” “Whoa.” Sydney cocked an eyebrow of surprise. “Did you say Max Evans? As in former Agent Max Evans? As in kill-you-with-a-look-Max-Evans?” Vaughn nodded. “That’s what I said.” “Wow.” Vaughn gave Sydney a ‘see what I mean’ look. “So, that should pretty much answer your ‘how did he get past my security’ question.” “Yeah…yeah, I guess it does.” Sydney answered absently before her eyes took on a twinkle. “So, he and Liz are, uh…” Sydney wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. Vaughn shrugged his shoulders and held up his hands in a sign of protest. “Like I said, it’s Liz’s story to tell.” Pursing her lips, Sydney nodded her head knowing when her influence on Vaughn has run out. “Ok. Fine.” She turned on her heel and walked toward the exit, stopping only long enough to toss Vaughn a teasing comment with a note of challenge. “When I get the full scoop on Liz and this Agent Max Evans let’s just see how much intel **I** share with you.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Well, it’s about time you got back to me.” Liz declared with exasperation the moment she grabbed up the phone after hearing that Alex Whitman was on the line for her. “Sorry, Liz. Just got back into town. And to your hundred and one messages, I might add. Thanks so much for making me feel so loved, by the way.” He tried to stifle a yawn, but failed miserably. Sensing Liz’s impatience on the other end of the line, Alex cut to the chase. “So, about Max finding you. I have no idea how.” “What do mean you have no idea?” Liz hissed into the phone. Liz glanced up at a few co-workers who were passing by her windowed office, smiled, waved then continued her conversation after they had passed out of earshot. “Alex, you and I were the only ones who were suppose to know where I am.” Alex let out a deep, weary sigh. ”I know that, Liz.” “Then who could have told him?” “Well it wasn’t me, I can tell you that.” His voice sounded clipped and irritated. His next comment clued Liz in as to why. “I have the black eye to prove it. Would you like me to send you a picture?” Liz’s mouth dropped open. “Max punched you?” “Yeah. Apparently, he felt it was the appropriate response when I told him to consider the possibility that after he finally found the balls to kiss you, you decided to join a nunnery. That…or you became a lesbian.” Alex added with a hint of laughter in his voice. “Oh, God.” Liz shut her eyes. “He’s that upset?” Alex nearly chuckled at the comment. “Liz…here’s a tip. Most men do not take kindly to having their brand new fiancee’ fly the coop on them without so much as a good-bye.” Alex let out a sigh and Liz could almost hear the roll of his eyes. “He was worried, ok? That’s why he was so upset. I told you things are happening. Max knows that, so when you disappeared…” “He thought it was because of what’s going on with you guys.” Liz finished for Alex. Running her fingers through her hair, she leaned back in her plush chair and gazed up at the ceiling. “What am I going to do, Alex? I mean…God, do you have any idea what it was like coming to work this morning? Wondering where he was. When he was going to just pop up. I actually found myself looking over my shoulder for him several times just to see if he was there.” Amusement tinged Alex’s voice. “He’s not a stalker, Liz.” “I know that, ok? It’s just…” Liz let out a shaky breath and leaned her head back against her chair squeezing her eyes shut. “…I thought with the way I left him…he’d give up this crazy notion about getting married. Especially once he found out about McKenna.” Silence greeted her comment. “Alex?” Alex cleared his throat. “Right. See, the thing is, Liz…” The guilt in Alex’s voice instantly clued Liz in. “Oh my God. He doesn’t know, does he?” The quickening of Liz’s heart caused her breath to catch. When Alex didn’t immediately answer, Liz’s voice hardened. “Does he, Alex.” “No.” Liz released the breath she’d been holding and pushed the hair back from her face in agitation. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You have had two months…why the hell haven’t you told him the love of his life is alive? God, don’t you think he has the right to know?” “First of all…” Alex’s voice was tense and clipped, his defenses clearly on the rise. “I believe it is a tad premature to be calling her the love of his life when he’s not even reached the grand old age of thirty. Secondly, in case you didn’t notice, he’s feeling more than just a slight crush for you. A fact which he proved by asking you to marry him. A fact, he’s been proving for the past two months by searching for you. So don’t count yourself out of the running just yet.” The tone of Alex’s voice, the curtness of his replies sent one message to Liz loud and clear…she had overstepped her boundaries. As he continued, it was even more clear that the discussion of McKenna was a topic that Liz Parker would be shut out of, once again. “And thirdly, my reasons for telling Max…or not, in this case…are my reasons and have nothing to do your current situation.” “But…” “Subject closed, Liz.” Alex commanded, his voice sending a shiver through Liz’s spine for the first time since knowing him. Unsure what to say, Liz remained silent and tried to blink back the tears quickly surfacing. She could hear Alex release a regretful sigh on the other end of the phone. “I’m…sorry, Liz. You didn’t deserve that. It’s just…” “We all have so many secrets to keep.” Liz replied quietly, understandingly. Swallowing back her revulsion at the thought, Liz’s grip in the phone tightened. “Is this a secret you’re going to expect me to keep from him too, Alex?” “Yes, Liz, it is.” Alex didn’t even hesitate to level his command. “Under no circumstances are you to say anything about her to Max. Do you understand?” Shaking her head, a stubborn glint flickered through her eyes. “I’m not sure I can do that, Alex.” “You know, not two months ago you were begging me to keep him safe and happy. If that’s what you want, Liz…if that’s what really drove you away from him…then you’ll do it.” Satisfied by her silence that his attempt at emotional blackmail had worked, Alex tried to keep the edge out of his voice. “Now, I need your word.” Liz deliberated a moment before her quiet response traveled to Alex through the phone. “Fine. You have my word.” “Thank you, Liz.” Alex’s gratitude was quiet but sincere. Quickly shifting focus to something he had a better handle on, Alex propped his feet up on his desk and leaned back in his chair. “Now, as to why you originally called. The way I see it, you have two choices. I can get you set up in a brand new place by tomorrow night and we start this entire process all over again or…you can handle it.” “Handle it.” Still smarting from the promise she’d just made, Liz repeated Alex’s suggestion, blinking rapidly. “Handle Max. You have **got** to be kidding.” “Liz…the man is in love with you. If he wasn’t, he wouldn’t have asked you to marry him.” “That’s the problem, Alex.” Liz’s curt response was edged with impatience. “Look, I honestly don’t know what to tell you. You’re clearly jumping into pools with Max that I simply have no experience with. Emotional confrontations are just not my thing…” “Rachel?” A glowing faced Evie poked her head into Liz’s office. “Steph and the board are ready for the meeting now. Our mysterious backer has finally arrived.” Liz forced a smile and nodded. “Ok, Evie. Just getting the last few schedules printed. Tell her I’ll be right there.” She waited till the secretary slipped past her office to deliver the same message to a few other members of the staff before addressing Alex again. “Look, I have to go. I have a meeting.” “Hey, how’s that project manager job at that artsy commission of yours coming?” Brightening considerably and in the process trying to mend any fences he might have broken, Alex asked with genuine curiosity. “It’s called The Art of Community Cooperation, Alex.” Sensing his desire to get back on good footing with her, Liz smiled into the phone as she concentrated on the computer screen in front of her. “And I love it.” “You know it was so nice of Maggie to offer me a place at Harmony Records after Dani went on tour, but I would have really missed helping the kids you know? This way as project manager I’m in charge of organizing benefits and charities that help the people that need it the most. Plus I get to work with a lot of great people.” Finding the page she was looking for, Liz clicked print on her screen then reached for the page as it printed. “Sounds like you really enjoy it.” “Oh, I do.” Liz answered, a smile clearly evident in her voice. “Take this benefit I’m working on now. We’re planning a night of gambling for charity. There will be entertainment as well as an auction. All the proceeds will be split evenly among three of our most worthy causes. Oh, and get this…” Liz paused for dramatic effect. “…there’s this anonymous patron of one of the galleries in town that heard about our plans and has agreed to match dollar for dollar everything we bring in. Not to mention they’re footing the bill for our expenses.” “Really.” It was more of a statement then a question as Alex’s mind immediately jumped into action. “This donor…you said they were anonymous.” “Yeah. Apparently he or she is pretty eccentric…” Liz paused as her assistant, Gabe poked his head into her office. “Didn’t want anyone to know their name. Except now we’ve got this big meeting where their identity is going to be revealed. It’s all kinda odd, if you ask me. But I guess that’s what they mean by ‘eccentric’…” “And how exactly did hear about this job again?” Alex queried, a thought once having formed now began to take root in suspicion. “By some weird twist of fate.” Liz stated as she stood up and began gathering folders that contained details of upcoming plans. “I’d gotten a flyer in my mailbox about a gallery opening and decided to check it out. Only the opening date on the flyer was for the wrong date.” “You don’t say.” Alex commented quietly, a smile starting to tug his lips upward. “I know. It was really strange.” Liz paused a moment thoughtfully then shrugged her shoulders and went on with her story. “Anyway, it worked out really great because when I got there the owner and I struck up a conversation about art and the opportunities to help the community that just slip by us every day. She told me about this position that was open with ACC, put me in touch with the director and bam…I got the job.” A thoughtful expression danced in Liz’s eyes a moment. “You know, now that I think about it, something else was kinda weird about it.” ”Weird?” “Yeah. Steph said the position hadn’t even been open for a day so she had no idea how the gallery owner even knew about it.” “Rach, babe, the meeting. We’re all waiting for you. Steph has started tapping her foot and glaring at everyone in the room and you know what that means. Someone’s gonna get…” He gave her the flamboyant sign of a knife being sliced across someone’s throat. “Right. Gabe, I swear, I’m on my way.” Liz sighed into the phone. “Sorry, Alex, I really do have to go. But about Max…” “You’ll know what to do when you see him, Liz.” Releasing a heavy sigh, she pressed for something more. “What? No last words of instruction? Encouragement?” Knowing eyes began to twinkle as a smile drifted over Alex’s lips. “Yeah. Take a deep breath…and enjoy your meeting.” ~~~~~~~~~~~ After hanging up the phone with Liz, Alex sat back and chuckled. “Max, you devil…” His laughter soon turned to seriousness as the implications of Max and Liz being in the same city hit him. Letting out a loud sigh he reached for the phone again and dialed a familiar number. Waiting for the phone to ring, Alex shook his head in amusement at the plan Max had clearly been able to pull off in securing Liz her job. Max Evans truly was amazing when he put his mind to getting something done. Alex heard the familiar voice on the other end of the phone pick up. “Hey, it’s me. Are we…” “We’re secure.” Kyle quickly answered Alex’s question in a low voice. “For now. The shrew should be back any second so talk quickly.” “Ok. I need your help on something.” Kyle groaned. “Man, am I not already working overtime for you?” Alex chuckled. “Not quite, pal. Listen. Coyote found Cinderella.” Letting out a deep sigh, Kyle nodded. “I figured it was only a matter of time. So what do you need?” “His schedule needs to be very busy and very, very far away from L.A.” “Ah. So that’s where you stashed her.” Kyle’s voice took on a slight smile. “Good going.” ”Thanks. Can you do it?” “What? Rework his schedule to put him in places he isn’t just in case inquiring eyes find a way to pry? Sure. I’ll have it done by tonight.” ”Good.” Alex nodded appreciatively. “Give him as much time as possible. I have a feeling he’s planning on sticking this one out to the end.” Kyle hazarded a chuckle. “Did you expect anything less?” The smile was evident in Alex’s voice. “Not really. Let’s just hope Cinderella’s ready for him…” ~~~~~~~~~~ A gentle hum of voices greeted Liz as she headed down the hall toward the large oak doors of the conference room. Unexpectedly a knot began to form in the pit of her stomach. With each step she took, the annoying knot grew larger, tighter. Bits and pieces of conversations flitted through her mind. With no order, rhyme or reason. The tone of Alex’s voice when he was asking about how she got her job. The tune of Escape served as a mental backdrop as pieces of the past two months began to click together. Her steps slowed as she got closer to the conference room, her mind whirling with a fresh perspective. One that needed serious dissection. At another, more convenient time. Pushing dangerously distracting thoughts of Max far to the back of her mind, Liz took a deep breath and slowly opened the paneled door to slip inside just in time to hear her boss say, “That’s Rachel’s department. Oh, here she is now. The brains behind our little operation.” Steph motioned for Liz to come forward and join a tight circle that had formed around the person Liz could only assume was their generous donor. The moment she stepped in the room, she felt it. The energy. The electricity. The sheer power in the room. Liz instinctively stopped short and caught her breath. Her mind froze and her senses instantly picked up on a feeling. A feeling of… “Rache, come join us.” Steph’s voice cut through the thick haze of unexplainable sensations. Forcing a smile for Steph’s benefit, Liz’s cheeks colored with a faint blush of embarrassment at being the center of attention as she headed toward the group. Her gaze met several encouraging, recognized faces as she rounded the outside of the circle and headed in Steph’s direction. “Rachel, I’d like you to meet a man with very generous, very deep pockets. A good friend of mine for many years, you’ll not find a better friend for our cause.” Turning to face their honored guest just as Liz reached her, Steph made her introduction. “Rachel Harris, I’d like you to meet Max Evans. Max, this is the lady I’ve been telling you so much about…” The crowd parted and faded to nothing. All she could see was Max. Standing there with an exultant twinkle in his eyes and a smirk of victory on his lips. Liz’s steps faltered and she stood frozen to the floor. Her face paled and her breath stopped cold. Max took the first step. He reached for her hand, which she gave to him stunned and without protest. As he brought her hand to his lips, Max’s eyes locked with hers with a triumphant gleam. His warm, soft voice washed over her. “So nice to finally meet you…Rachel Harris…” And Liz Parker’s world stood came to a crashing halt. Tbc… [ edited 25time(s), last at 12-Feb-2003 9:20:04 PM ] |
| posted on 15-May-2002 11:58:36 PM by Ashton |
| Rope the Wind
Sequel to Kiss the Flame Disclaimer: I don’t own anything Roswell, GH, M/L, J/B Rating: Ya’ll know me…probably just PG-13, but who knows? Couple: Who else?? M/L of course! Summary: Sequel to Kiss the Flame. Seriously complicated so it really would be best to read that one first. BUT…Max has asked Liz (Kendall) to marry and she said yes, then proceeded to disappear to L.A. to start a brand new life under the name Rachel Harris. Hey all!! Thanks soooo much for the amazing feedback! I'm so glad you're enjoying this fic so far! Here's the next part. Hope you'll enjoy! Would LOVE to hear what you think!!! BehrHugs, Ashton p.s. The link to my egroup is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AMDreamerFanfiction/ I have all of the chpts of all of my stories listed there if you missed any!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ chapter 2 ~ Five minutes after the meeting ended, the office buzz began… "Did you see the way he was looking at her?" "See it? Who could miss it? He kept staring at her lips like he was starving and she was his next meal…" "For a minute there I thought Rachel was going to faint…" "Faint? I thought she was going to have a heart attack. Then again, I can't blame her. That Max Evans is one hunk of a man. If he looked at me like that…hell, I'd faint just so he'd have to give me mouth to mouth..." "Wow. Things haven't been this exciting around here since…well, I can't remember. There is definite sparkage with those two." "Oh, totally. It's going to be a blast watching them work together on this project. What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall at their lunch date today." "Oh, I know. What was that about? Mr. Evans making a point of picking her up. And the banter about her name and fate. It's like they were talking in secret code or something." "That's because they were, duffus…" "Ten dollars says they knew each other before." "Twenty says they've slept together." "Fifty says they haven't...but they certainly want to." "Now, that's one bet I wouldn't take, because I'd lose big time. The sexual tension in that room was enough to explode the roof off the building." "Totally. Let's just hope Rache doesn't explode before Max makes his move…" Ignoring sly glances and knowing smiles Liz Parker hurried past staffers with heads bent together whispering highly accurate comments. Slipping into her office she firmly shut the door and leaned back against it before releasing a loud sigh of relief and blinking back tears of frustration. Dazed. That’s exactly how Liz Parker had lived the thirty minutes of her life after seeing Max Evans again. She stumbled toward her seat behind her desk and dropped into it as her wobbly legs finally gave out on her. That now familiar Max Evans induced flush of her body sent a shiver racing through her and Liz squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the image of Max smirking at her. Eyes dancing with mischief and victory. Hands as steady as a rock and lips as hot as a summer day. And his meaning-filled words… It didn't work. The conversation came rushing back to her like a powerful explosion… As he brought her hand to his lips, Max’s eyes locked with hers with a triumphant gleam. His warm, soft voice washed over her. “So nice to finally meet you…Rachel Harris…” And Liz Parker’s world stood came to a crashing halt. She swallowed hard as her heart tripple hammered against her chest. And there was this annoying ringing in her ears as the skin under his lips began to burn with an intense fever. Every nerve in her body began to quiver and an uncontrollable blaze warmed her from the inside out. Her thoughts were sluggish and incoherent, and Liz truly felt her body shutting down and coming to life all in the same breath. Her "Uh-huh" came out in a breathless grunt as she unconsciously licked her suddenly dry lips. Max's smirk deepened. His darkening eyes sparked with desire as they swept over her from head to toe then back again, stopping to lock with penetrating intensity on her lips before snapping back up to meet her stunned gaze. There was hidden laughter in his eyes. "I must admit, Ms. Harris, when Steph told me your name I was rather…intrigued." Liz blinked rapidly. The dryness from her lips instantly spread to her mouth. It felt like heavy cotton as a lump began to grow in her throat. "R-Really?" Her barely choked out question accompanied the plummet of her heart to the pit of her stomach. "Yees." Max continued casually drawing out the word for emphasis. Never once relinquishing his grip on her hand, his demeanor was self-assured and controlled. The attitude of a man who held the upper hand…and knew it. "You see, my mother's maiden name was Harris and…" A hint of pain shadowed his eyes for a flash of a moment before he continued, his voice softening in reverence. "…I had a sister named Rachel. She was very dear to me." It was like the room was holding a collective breath. Waiting for her response. Liz pushed back the impulse to wrap her arms around him and erase the pain she'd seen in his eyes. Though her lips didn't move, her eyes whispered an apology to him across the distance. It was only a glimmer that would have been lost on anyone else less attuned to the workings of Liz Parker's heart and mind. Seeing an almost imperceptible flicker of response in his eyes, Liz instantly forced herself to stiffen as she pulled her hand from his. Midnight eyes of resolve met a golden glow of admiration. "I can see how such a coincidence could be intriguing." Stuffing a hand in his pocket, a hint of a smile danced on his lips. "Oh, I don't believe in coincidences, Ms. Harris. I do, however, believe in fate." Squaring her shoulders, Liz raised an unbending eyebrow. "Do you, now?" Max tilted his head to the side as he scrutinized her, recognizing all the signs of a woman regaining control. He fought the urge to gather her in his arms and seriously make up for lost time. There would enough time for that. He just had to be patient. "I take it you don't." Clasping her hands in front of her, Liz forced her legs to remain steady. She briefly met his eyes, then her gaze shifted to the knotted tie at the base of his throat. That smooth column of bronzed skin that tasted so amazingly good. Liz swallowed involuntarily and licked her lips. She could practically taste him now. She squeezed her eyes shut forcing herself to focus. "Let's just say that I think the concept of fate is a convenient scapegoat for people who don't want to take responsibility for their own actions and the consequences that follow." "Ah." Max's one sound response sent a shiver through Liz. Not because she got the impression he believed her. On the contrary, he was reading her with such unerring accuracy that Liz felt unnerved from the top of her head to the curl of her toes. Sensing his effect on her, Max continued, his words casual. His gaze, anything but as it dropped to the 'v' of her blouse hovering centimeters above her cleavage and slowly, seductively moved upward till he paused at her full, trembling lips. "Don't misunderstand, Ms. Harris. I believe in taking the blame or reward for your own decisions." "But I also believe there are some things in life that are just…" His eyes locked with hers as his voice lowered intimately. "…magically meant to be. No matter how hard you fight against them, how much you try to deny what's going on…no matter where you run or how well you hide…those things will happen. They're… undeniable. Timeless. Inevitable…" Inevitable. Liz let out a sigh as she swiveled her chair to face the wall of windows behind her. With an almost amused shake of her head, Liz watched the ocean waves roll one right after the other toward the shore. Relentless. Persistent. Limitless. Just like Max Evans. Looking back she had no idea how she had managed to string more than two coherent words together at a time. Or how she was able to remain standing somewhat steadily. How she'd controlled the shaking of her legs when Steph had interrupted the tangible connection sparking between Max and Liz to suggest they have a seat and discuss the project. How she didn’t break down crying right in the middle of the room at the hint of pain she saw behind his confident façade when her eyes would raise to meet his across the conference table. Or how she hadn't thrown herself in to his arms in defeat right at the moment his silent resolve whispered through his not so subtle declaration of a new war. There was a knock on Liz's door. Fully expecting to see Max on the other side of the door, Liz steeled herself for her visitor then visibly relaxed when Gabe stuck his head in after she had called out her welcome. "Hey, Rache…you have a call. Line two. Alex Whitman again." Liz practically dove for the phone. Sensing Gabe's curiosity was in overdrive, she hesitated before hitting the line to accept the call and addressed him with a knowing upraised eyebrow. "Is there something you want to ask me, Gabe?" "Uh…well…" "Yes?" "This Max Evans…" "Yes?" "It uh…well, it was kinda hard to miss…" Gabe's face began to color. "Are the two of you uh…" Cutting him off before he could go any farther, Liz shook her head. "Never met him before today, Gabe. And no matter what everyone out there is betting on, Max Evans' presence here is not going to be a problem for me." The determination in her voice hardened as she continued, making a promise to herself more than an explanation to her fair-haired assistant. "There's no way in hell I'm going to be distracted or let him interfere with any plans that I've made. Max Evans being here is not going to change a thing." Taking a deep breath, she gave Gabe a pointed look. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a call waiting…" As soon as Gabe closed the door behind him, Liz hit the line and spoke into the phone. "You knew, didn't you. That's what the crack about enjoying my meeting was about, wasn't it?" Alex chuckled on the other end of the line. "So would you have if you'd thought about it." Liz let out a sigh and leaned back. "Alex, what am I going to do about him?" "I take it he let you know in his own way he's not giving up?" "Oh, yeah. That message came through loud and clear." Shaking her head, Liz chewed on her bottom lip. "We're having lunch later today." "Really." Alex commented a bit surprised that Liz would agree to a private meeting with Max so soon. "I thought you would have turned him down…" "Yeah, well, I tried." Liz cut Alex off abruptly. "But he trapped me." "Trapped you?" Alex was trying hard not to laugh at the defeated tone of Liz's voice. "How did he…uh…" Rolling her eyes, she launched into her brief tale… "These plans look very good. Very good." Max commented as he perused the folder in front of him. "Unfortunately…" He closed the folder in front of him and folded his hands on top of it as his eyes raised to meet Liz's across the table. "…they aren't good enough." Liz's mouth dropped open and her eyes instantly flashed with irritation. "But…" Max held up his hand to stop her protest. "I'm not saying we don't have an excellent start. I think you've done a great job with the overall tone we're wanting to set with the fundraiser. I’m just saying that we'll need to work on the logistics a bit more." His eyes began to twinkle devilishly. "In fact, I think we should get started as soon as possible. How about lunch? Just you and me." Liz's chin raised instantly in defiance as she stiffened in her chair. "Lunch is out of the question." "Really?" A slow smirk turned the corner of his lips upward. "And that would be because…" "I already have lunch plans." Liz shot back immediately. "Hmmm." Max seemed to be thinking his options over, though the determined set of his jaw never once wavered. "Well, I guess that's to bad then…for your other party. Shall I pick you up at high noon or did you have such a large breakfast you'd rather have a late lunch?" Staffers mouths dropped open at Max's boldness and all eyes shifted to catch Liz's reaction. They weren't disappointed. A dark eyebrow raised, her chest rose and fell with an indignant breath and she forced an indulgent smile through tight lips. Her fingers interlocked tightly on the table in front of her. "Although I appreciate your position here, Mr. Evans, I do think it is beyond your authority to order my attendance at lunch..." Liz added a last comment with an attempt at an appeasing air. "…if even only a toe over the line." "Ahem." Stephanie cleared her throat. "Actually, Rachel, I think it would be an excellent idea for you to have lunch with Max." Liz's head snapped to the head of the table where Steph sat. "What??" Tossing Max a glance, Steph shrugged her shoulders. "Max made it clear to me that he has a very tight schedule to keep, so if he'd like to iron out a few details at lunch, then I think the least we can do is accommodate him. After all, he is footing the bill for our project." Angry eyes snapping back to meet Max's, Liz's tone was curt. "Fine. We can meet at the Oasis at noon…" Max flashed a grin and shook his head. "Uh…no." "But…" Giving Liz a pointed look, Max interrupted her with a meaningful explanation. "Last time I agreed to meet someone for lunch, she ended up sending her assistant in her place. Needless to say, lunch was not as pleasurable as it could have been had my date kept her word." The added level of meaning in Max's words didn't escape Liz. He wasn't only talking about the first day he'd arrived in New Haven and sent V in her place to have lunch with him. He was talking about that day in his office. The day she told him she would marry him…and then she ran away. "Maybe something out of her control came up." Liz offered the only explanation she could muster for having left him only moments after one of the happiest experiences of her life. Max's catlike grin deepened. "And maybe I don't plan on taking that chance this time." Pushing back his chair, Max stood abruptly. The unbending command was leveled with the barest hint of a triumphant smile. "In your office. Noon." A genuine smile touched his lips as his gaze shifted to the rest of the group. "As for the everyone else, thank you all for your efforts. I'm sure I'll be seeing a lot of you in the coming months. Steph, I'll be in your office when you're done…" One last knowing look in Liz's direction and Max headed toward the door. "Did you really think he'd let you go that easily?" Alex commented once Liz had recounted her tale. "Well…no. I…I guess not. Not if he's gone through so much trouble to find me." Liz admitted with a sigh. "But…Alex, he's going to want answers. Answers that I simply can't give him…" "Why not, Liz?" Alex suggested. "I've been thinking about this. Why not just tell him everything? I mean, Kyle and I know. Max won't turn his back on you if that's what you're afraid of." "It's the exact opposite that I’m afraid of, Alex." The frustration and fear in Liz's voice was evident. "I'm afraid he won't turn his back." Shaking her head, Liz's words were muffled and soft. "I know he won't. I need him to." Alex sighed into the phone feeling the inevitable waste that came from reviewing Max and Liz's situation. "It's your choice, of course. And I do understand where you're coming from, but he just might surprise you, you know. If you told him everything…" "Including that McKenna's alive?" Liz shot back, her voice laced with irritation. Alex's words stopped cold. As silence ruled him, Liz pressed her point. "How can I risk him staying when not only his life would be in danger, but my heart would be too? Alex, the second he finds out she's alive…I'll lose him." "Liz, you don't know that…" "I'll lose him, Alex. He will compare what he's feeling for me to what he's always felt for her and know that I'm just a passing fancy." Liz repeated, emphasizing her point. "The only way to insure that he'll leave me alone is to tell him about her. But if you won't let me do that, then I have to keep my distance. Telling him the truth about my past would only bring us closer than we were before. And once I've breached that barrier, I don't think there will be any going back for me." "Alright, alright." Alex stated with a level of defeat edging his voice. "I get your point. I just wish that I didn't." There was a momentary pause. "Look, I just wanted to make sure you were ok after seeing him again." "Yeah…yeah, I'll be ok." Liz stated softly as she wet her dry lips. Squeezing her eyes shut, Liz shook her head. "I have no idea how I’m going to handle lunch or anything else he might try to throw my way, but I'll do it. I have to…" Her eyes slowly opened, new resolve flashing dangerously. "…to keep him safe." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I want him back." "And you shall have him back." "When?" McKenna's face screwed up into an impatient pout as she turned, arms crossed in front of her, from the fireplace to face a man lounging in a large overstuffed chair. Dark drapes were loose, casting gloomy shadows over the elaborately decorated room. The chill in the air was only dispersed by the fire crackling in the fireplace. He tilted his silver head to the side and eyed her with narrowed steel blue eyes. Steepling his hands in front of him, his deep commanding voice contrasted with the frailty of his body and resonated in the space around him. "You shall have him when it is time, my dear." McKenna plopped down on the footstool in front of the man, much like an eager child. She gathered his cold hands in hers. "But father, when will that be? I'm tired of waiting. I'm tired of spending endless hours answering Kyle's tiresome questions. I don't see the point in any of it. Why can't we just make our move? Why can't I reveal to Max who I really am? Why can't I just find out where he is and…" "Shhh, my child." He patted her hand reassuringly. "All in good time. All in good time, McKenna." A coughing spell overtook him and McKenna's concern instantly showed on her face. She reached for the glass of water he always kept on the table next to him. Putting it to his lips, she helped him to drink. "I wish I could stay and take care of you." McKenna's voice sounded very small and childlike in the great space of the room as she helped him lean back against the chair. He closed his eyes in painful relief. "I wish…" "Too many things." His eyes opened and he attempted a smile. His withering hand reached out and stroked her hair in a fatherly gesture. "My little girl. You always did want the best of everything. And you always wanted it on your schedule." A playful pout touched her lips. "Is that so horrible?" He made a sound that was close to a chuckle and shook his head. "No, no it isn't. Except now you need to learn patience." "But father…this plan of ours…its been going on for quite some time now." "Yes, I know, my child." Patting her shoulder, he took a ragged, painful breath. "And it must go on a bit more. You are feeding our enemies the information we want them to have. And in return you will be given your heart's desire. Max Evans will be yours again once you destroy our target." "Liz Parker." Blue eyes flashed dangerously at the name. "Yes." "And I do that how again? She skipped town, father. I have no idea where she is…" "Find her child and you'll find her." "Her…" McKenna's eyes widened. "That little girl. At the bed and breakfast…" He nodded his silver head stiffly. "You suspected. Now you know." A devilish smile touched his lips. "A child's place is with her father, don't you agree? I think its time you contact Chris Santoro again." McKenna's responding smile of pure malice would have sent shivers down the spine of any normal human. Darian Wolfe was no normal human. Darian Wolfe was McKenna Donovan's father. And Max Evans' deadliest enemy. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ The clock ticked away. With each second that got closer to twelve noon, Liz became more nervous. More flushed. More…petrified. A million emotions had come and gone. Even more thoughts had raced through her mind. Liz Parker couldn't quite figure out which ones to focus on. That was, when she was able to focus on anything at all. With instructions to Gabe to hold all of her calls, Liz had paced her office so many times her feet were sore. And she was positive she could see the wood under the carpet. Her main concern…what exactly was Max feeling. Though he'd remained staunchly casual and even affable, her guess…anger, resentment, hurt. Confusion, bitterness, rage. Any, and most likely, a powerful combination of all of the above. She wanted to call Angel. To get her advice. To see what she thought. But contact between them was restricted to once a night at a specific time where she could speak on a secured line with both Angel and Jaedan. Her baby. Her sweet little girl that was being shuffled from place to place while Liz was trying to best to build a safe and secure life in L.A. for all of them. It had been agreed. Before Liz even left New Haven for Max's office in New York, the bags had been packed. The bed and breakfast had been put on the market. And Angel and Jaedan had set out on a car trip from Connecticut to Virginia. Liz had planned on following Kyle's plan and disappearing into the wild blue yonder on his private jet and contacting Angel later with her final destination. Instead, Alex had convinced her to head to L.A. It had been a wise move on her part. She'd been happy in L.A. Or at least as happy as her circumstances would allow. Sydney Bristow had proved to be a wonderful roommate. Liz didn't have to hide her identity or keep secrets from Sydney. And Sydney had found the same about Liz. In fact, Sydney had opened up to Liz in ways she hadn't expected. Told her about her double life working for both the CIA and SD-6, the organization that brutally murdered her fiance. Even reminisced at times about the love she lost and was fight for justice in which she was currently engaging. And Liz had Vaughn. He'd been a good friend to her. He was there with a good ear when she needed to talk and willing shoulder if she needed to cry. He'd shown her around a city she'd easily get lost in had it not been for him. And he had been training her in weapons and self-defense. With her job in the music industry and now with the commission, Liz Parker was hoping this life would last for a while. All in all, L.A. was a great place to be. Though her plans had changed, Angel's and Jaedan's had not. Their final good bye from the garden of the B&B had sent them on a car trip across the country. From Connecticut to Virginia. Virginia to Ohio. Ohio to Illinois. Eventually they ended up in Denver, where they had been for the past month and a half. She missed them. So much. Work kept her so busy that she often found she hadn't thought of either of them the entire day. Which made the night that much harder. The loneliness that more acute. The guilt and pain so much more tangible. Never had keeping them safe been so difficult. Never had she wanted to cave as many times as she did since arriving in L.A. Wanting to just jump on the next plane to Denver and hold her little girl. See her best friend…a woman who was more like a mother than hers had ever been. She'd cried herself to sleep many nights after getting off the phone with Jaedan. She could hear the emptiness in her daughter's voice. Each 'I miss you' ripped her heart to shreds and was only soothed with the never-ending childlike 'I love you' that came just before the phone went dead. And Max Evans. She never, ever, let herself think about Max Evans. About the dreams she destroyed when she left his office. About the love that had danced in his eyes. The selflessness that floated through in his words and embedded itself in her heart. To think about him would be to acknowledge what she had held in her hands for one brief moment in time. Before she crushed it beneath her running feet. And now…he was back in her life. And she had no idea what to expect from him. It paralyzed her with fear. There was a knock on the door and Liz was jolted out of her daze. She immediately glanced at the clock. It was noon. Taking a few deep breaths, Liz glanced in the mirror and smoothed her hair down. Straightening her skirt she wet her lips and cleared her throat, knowing that this was the moment that she'd been dreading. The moment that, despite herself, she'd been eagerly anticipating. Another knock. Another deep breath. Then…"Come in." The door swung open to reveal a triumphantly smiling Max Evans. Casually stuffing a hand in his pocket he leaned against the doorframe and crossed one ankle over the other. "Hope you're hungry, Ms. Harris." His gaze swept over her, lingering in places that made Liz's blood positively simmer and her skin tingle with electric currents. Desire instantly ignited in his eyes and layered each word with a double meaning. "Because I have to say…" His intense gaze landed on her lips. "I am absolutely…" Eyes locking with Liz's, they darkened instantly to two black unreadable pools. "…ravenous." Liz swallowed hard. "Is…that supposed to scare me?" "No." Max's predatory smile widened. "But you have been warned." Liz held her breath as Max made his move. Eyes never wavering from hers, he closed the distance between them in a heartbeat. Slowly, seductively circling Liz, Max unconsciously breathed in her scent as if it were the sweetest thing in the world and smiled into her hair when he finally stopped behind her. She could feel his chest rising and falling against her back with each gentle breath. Eyes fluttering closed, Liz fought the urge to lean back against him when his feather-light fingers slid down her arm to engulf her hand in his. Liz shivered when he swept her hair out of the way, his fingers tangling in the long strands, his heated breath tickling her ear. "Rachel Harris, you and I…have a lot to talk about..." Tbc… [ edited 1time(s), last at 16-May-2002 12:21:30 AM ] |
| posted on 27-May-2002 11:47:15 PM by Ashton |
| Hey all!!!
Here's the next part. It's VERY long, but I hope you enjoy anyway. Next chpt will be mostly M/L so I wanted to show kinda where Max has been and what he's been up to the 2 months they were separated. This starts one month before Max actually shows up at Liz's board meeting. Thanks sooo much for your amazing support on this story! I'm so glad ya'll are enjoying it as much as you are!!! Please let me know what you think!! I love to hear your thoughts!!! Hope you enjoy!!! BehrHugs, Ashton ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ chapter 3 ~ (One month earlier) "Why are you so hell bent on finding your brother?" Diane Evans watched with interest as her normally reserved son paced back and forth in front of her, clearly on the verge of exploding. "Why? You want to know why?" Max's raised voice indicated the level of irritation and frustration that Kyle's latest antics, whatever they may be, had driven Max to. His revenge plot came complete with hand gestures of each agonizing act. "I'll tell you why, mom. I want to find him so that I can rip the heart out of his chest. I want to knock him to the ground, tie him up by his toenails and make him suffer torture so painful he'll think twice before he ever, EVER thinks about interfering in my life again!" "So, I take it you're a bit upset with him." Max held out his hands in a 'duh' gesture and the comically irritated expression on his face spoke volumes. "Once again, mother, you are Queen of the Understatement." A slow smile claimed Diane's lips. At least she'd gotten a more Max-like reaction with that. The smile slipped away as she began to sober, her next statement proving she knew exactly what had Max so upset. "He didn't take Kendall away from you, Max. She did that all on her own." "He helped." Max shot back tersely as his eyes crackled with frustration and pain. "So did I." Diane commented quietly. "Do you want to string me up too?" Giving Max a sympathetic look, she patted the seat next to her on the couch. "Sit down, son. Talk to me." Letting out a deep sigh of resignation, Max plopped down onto the couch and leaned his head back against the cushion. "I knew she wasn't coming back. I knew it when she walked out of my office. I should have had her followed or gone after her or…I don't know what…" Max squeezed his eyes shut. "She was with me, mom. There was a moment when I knew…I **knew**…" His eyes slowly opened. "…she felt everything I felt. She wanted everything I wanted. She wanted it as much as I wanted it. And then…" "She left." Diane finished for him softly. Max nodded, swallowing hard. "I knew she'd run, I just didn't think she'd completely disappear on me, you know? Gone…without a trace." "Max…" Diane steepled her hands in front of her and pursed her lips before continuing. It was as if she were trying to come to a decision about something and once having made that decision, she took a deep breath and began to speak. "Max, she isn't who you think she is." A small smile began to tug on the corner of Max's lips at the seriousness of his mother's expression and the tale he knew she was about to tell. "She's exactly who I think she is, mom." "No, honey, listen to me. When she was here about the school, I heard Kyle call her…" Letting out a sigh, Max leaned his head back once more and cast his gaze toward the ceiling above. His voice was pedantic, almost bored…as if he were reciting an old poem. "Her real name is Liz Parker. She's the daughter of a billionaire businessman who shipped her off to boarding school almost as soon as she could walk. She was married to a mobster when she was eighteen, which effectively ended all of her public appearances…" Max's voice hardened with hatred. "…not to mention any chance for real happiness…" He paused to swallow the anger that thinking of Chris Santoro always caused to simmer in his veins. Taking a deep calming breath, Max continued. "I know all about it, mom." Max's gaze shifted to meet his mother's surprised expression. "I've known for a long time now. And despite whatever Kyle may have told you about how dangerous it would be for me to get involved with her…I can't help it." He sat up and leaned forward, his whole demeanor coming alive with excitement and passion when the focus of his discussion shifted from the facts of Liz's life to everything that made her the woman he loved. "She's so amazing. So talented. These paintings of hers…" Max let out a sigh as a smile drifted over his lips. "They're just…the most incredible thing I've ever seen. And her voice….God, mom…she has the voice of an angel." Max continued, the love in his voice increasing in intensity. "Everything about her calls to me. She's beautiful and funny and so full of so much love it's beyond amazing in a woman who has suffered so much. She's sharp and witty. And…if you could have seen some of the tricks she played on me when I first met her…" Max began to chuckle as memories warmed his eyes to a golden glow. "The woman is first rate crafty. She's my equal in every way, mom. **Every** way." Voice softening, Max's eyes began to shine with an added light. "And she has a daughter. Jaedan. A little girl who has somehow managed to wrap me so tightly around her little finger…" Max chuckled at himself. "…and, you know, I don't even mind admitting that. Or that I want to make more like her, with Liz. I adore her, mom. I adore them both. I want so much to make them happy. To be everything they need. I just…" "Can't find them." Diane finished for Max. Max sank back against the couch in defeat. "Yeah. Because of Kyle." "Honestly, Max…I don't think Kyle knows where she is." Diane supplied her opinion only to receive a grunt of disbelief and a roll of Max's eyes. "No, now, Max, I mean it. I asked him flat out the other day when we talked and told me he doesn't know." "Oh, right. And Kyle's always been the picture of honesty. Come on, mom…" "Max. He doesn't know." Diane's voice hardened. Which got Max's attention. His eyes narrowed. "What makes you think so?" "Because I can tell when my boys are lying to me about the important stuff. This Liz is definitely important to you. And to Kyle, believe it or not." Diane let out a sigh as her gaze shifted from Max's thoughtful expression. "And because something…bigger…seems to be on his mind." Max's eyes narrowed even further. "Bigger…as in…" "I've always known when either of you were on a mission, ok?" Diane's admission caused Max to blink in surprise. "You both thought you were so smooth. That your old mom never knew you were out risking your necks, saving the world. But I did." "Mom, I…" "Kyle doesn't know where she is, Max." Diane leaned over and covered Max's hand with hers. "You'll have to find her on your own. From what it sounds like, from what I picked up about her when she came that one day, she's very much like the wind, Max. She's as fresh as spring, but just as stormy. Wild and untamable. Blowing here and there with nothing stable to root her to the ground." "She's too afraid to get tied down by complications or emotions too deep to dismiss. I could see the fear in her eyes that day when she was trying so hard to distance herself from you. Now I understand why. Max, she's a mother. And not just any mother, but a mother with an ex-husband who terrifies her." "Mom, I know…" "Max, please. Just let me say this just this once. You can disregard it or take it to heart, but at least let me say it ok?" Max nodded his consent and Diane continued with a knowing smile. "You aren't a parent, Max. You simply can't understand what she's willing to sacrifice for her daughter. I know you adore this little girl. I know you think you want a family that includes her, but Max…you are not her father. You didn't create her or hope for her. Or dream about what she would be like and pray with all your might that she'd have all ten fingers and toes. You didn't watch her fight to be born or feel her wrap her tiny fingers around yours for the very first time. Liz did all of those things. And she did them alone." "And she's been doing them alone ever since. I guarantee you for years she's seen herself as a mother first and a woman second. Or maybe not even at all. She's put all normal dreams and desires to the side in an effort to keep her daughter safe. And then here you come. Bold and stubborn and irritatingly wonderful. You make her feel things she's forgotten how to feel. You make her want to be a woman again. She has no idea what to do with you. Because what she may want with you conflicts with what her daughter needs. Or so she thinks." "She doesn't know where to put you in her world of black and white, or whether to trust or not to trust. That terrifies her. Perhaps even more than her ex-husband. At least with him, she knows what to expect. With you…you are a surprise a minute. She is scared to death that she's going to trust the wrong surprise and it's going to land her and her little girl in a world of hurt." Max's eyes snapped up to meet Diane's in earnest. "I would rather die than hurt them, mom." Diane smiled at Max's sincere, passionate statement. "That's good to know, Max. Because that's the level of devotion she's going to require of you. It'll be up to you to prove to her that loving you won't trap her, Max. And that is going to take an incredible amount of understanding and love, but most of all it's going to take patience. A lot of patience." Blue eyes met Max's as Diane patted his hand. "Son, do yourself and Liz a favor and be very, very sure that you have the stamina to go the distance. The worse thing you could ever do to her or that little girl is promise them you'll be there only to disappear when they need you the most because out of fear, Liz has pushed you one step too far." Gazing down at his hands, Max's voice sounded small in the large room. "You don't think I can do this, do you? That I can love that deep…" "Oh, Max…" Diane reached over and tilted Max's chin upward till he was looking at her. Dropping her hand as she gave an encouraging smile, Diane continued. "Son, I know you can. You are your father in so many ways. Not a day has gone by that I don't thank God he was too stubborn to let me push him away." Max's eyes narrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about, mom?" The expression on Diane's face said it all. She'd gone too far. Said too much. Max sensed it and was immediately curious. "Mom, is there something about you and dad that you've never told me?" Letting out a deep sigh, Diane nodded slowly. There was a moment of silence in which she seemed to be making a decision. When her eyes met Max's, it seemed she had. "I'm only telling you this because I think it will help you understand your situation with Liz. And you are not to say a word of this to your brother." "O…k…" She pulled in a steadying breath and swallowed hard. "Kyle is my Jaedan, Max." "What?" Confusion registered instantly in Max's voice. "Phillip is not Kyle's father. We met when Kyle was about one and a half and…" "Wait. What…I…I don't understand. I mean…we knew you'd gotten married after Kyle was born, but we just assumed that…" Max held up his hand, his expression registering the shell shock he was feeling. "Mom, are you're telling me that Kyle is my half-brother?" "Yes." "But dad's never let on. I mean he's always treated us the same…" "He loved Kyle from the beginning, Max. In his mind, Kyle is his son…just as much as you are. You never knew because Phillip is just amazing that way." Love for her husband shone out of her eyes. "I honestly don't think he remembers a time when Kyle didn't belong to him." New questions bombarded Max's mind and spilled out of his mouth. "But…but if dad isn't….then who is Kyle's fa…" Diane stopped his questions cold. "One day I will tell you everything, ok? I'll tell you the entire story beginning to end but right now what you need to know…what you need to understand is that I know where Liz is coming from. I was a single mother who was scared to death to let anyone get close." A remembering, bittersweet smile touched her lips. "I gave your dad one helluva time, let me tell you. But he never gave up. He stuck it out…even when I really believed I didn't want him to." "Liz's situation sounds ten times worse than mine was. That you are in love right now is an amazing thing in and of itself, Max, but you have to understand…you're not in love with a normal girl in a normal situation. This is not going to be a bed of roses for you. I don't doubt that she's going to fight you tooth and nail every step of the way. And just like Liz wants to protect her little girl, I don't want to see you get hurt. You may give this all you've got and still not end up with the girl, Max. Are you really ready for that possibility." Answering slowly but honestly, Max's expression was one of confident resolve and innocent sincerity. "I guess I have to be, mom. Isn't that why it's called unconditional love?" A slow smile lit Diane's eyes as she appraised her son. Love and approval radiated in her expression. "You really are your father's son." She reached out and touched the side of his face with a motherly caress. "I am so very proud of you." "That makes two of us." Max and Diane glanced in the direction of the voice to see Phillip Evans leaning casually against the wall. Giving his wife and son a smile, Phillip quirked an eyebrow in Diane's direction. "If you're done lecturing our boy do you think I could borrow him for a bit?" Diane's smile was bright as she winked at Max. "Yeah, I think I can spare him for a while. I'm sure he's tired of hearing me talk." "Never." Max answered with a grin before adding his sincere gratitude. "Thanks for the advise, mom. It means a lot to me." "Yeah, yeah, yeah. You'll probably forget every word the second you're out the door." "Not **every** word." Max teased in response and leaned over to kiss Diane on the cheek after whispering, "I love you." "We're taking the truck to the fields. Go on out, I'll be there in a sec." Phillip addressed Max and winked at Diane as Max slipped past him and headed outside. Once the door had closed, Phillip advanced into the room. "So you told him." Diane nodded. "Seemed the right time." "Yeah, it sounded like it." Running and gentle hand over Diane's hair, Phillip smiled down at her. "Is this the real deal with Max and this girl?" Diane looked up and nodded. "Sure sounds like it. Be gentle ok? He's our sensitive one." "Are you kidding?" Phillip chuckled and leaned down to kiss Diane gently on the lips. He grinned devilishly when he pulled back. "I'm gonna give him all the dirt on his dear ol' mom…" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "You're mom's the talker in the family, Max." Phillip Evans was leaning against the hood of his truck looking out over the fenced in fields where several horses were grazing. Max, perched on top of the hood, glanced down taking in his father's profile. Phillip continued with a smile and a shrug. "I guess all I wanted to really say was that I've been where you are. Or…at least pretty close. If you need to talk or vent, someone to bounce ideas off of or get advice from…you know your way home. And uh…you have my number. Call anytime you need me." A warm smile haunted Max's lips as his gaze shifted out to the field his father was watching with such intense interest. "Thanks, dad." After a moment's silence, Max ventured into an area he wasn't quite sure his dad would be willing to talk about. "Dad…why didn't you or mom ever tell us about Kyle?" Phillip glanced up at Max and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Because of your mother. Things were pretty rough for us in the beginning, Max. At one point it became clear that if we were to ever move forward together, we'd have to ignore the past. So, we drew a line in the sand and everything before that just…didn't exist. That included Kyle's father and that whole relationship. It was the only way your mom and I could survive." "And that really worked?" "For us…yeah." Deep in thought, Max began to play with a piece of straw he'd found on his clothes. Phillip glanced up at Max, his eyes narrowing in curiosity. "What are you thinking?" Max shrugged and let out a deep breath. "Just that I'm not so sure Liz and I have the kind of pasts that we could do that with. You know, it'd be great if we could just act like none of it ever happened, but…" Phillip shook his head as he pursed his lips. "I said it worked for your mom and me, Max. That doesn't mean its right for everyone. If you both have pasts that need to be dealt with, then deal. Once you've done that, they shouldn't be issues any more." "Yeah, I guess you're right. It's just…" "Hard." Phillip supplied the word when Max paused searching for it. "Yeah." Max agreed quietly. "Like…how do I tell a woman who is terrified of her ex-husband that I caused my own fiancee's death? Doesn't seem the best way to win her trust, you know?" Phillip turned to face Max and put a reassuring hand on his knee to get his attention. Max refused to meet his father's eyes. "Son…everybody and their brother knows that wasn't your fault. Everybody it seems, except you. I know one thing for sure, she'll never be able to move past it if you can't. And as for winning her trust, you have to give it to get it, Max. Maybe this thing with McKenna's where you need to start." As if signaling the close of that particular subject, Max slid off the hood of the truck and dropped to the ground with a dull thud. Walking to the fence he leaned against it and smiled at the sight of horses playfully chasing each other across the field. Phillip took Max's cue and joined him at the fence, his eyes focusing on one particular horse in the far corner of the field. Nodding in the chestnut beauty's direction, Phillip began to smile. "Remember her?" A wide grin was Phillips response when Max's gaze fell on the familiar mare. "Of course. Wind Chaser. First horse I ever broke in." Phillip chuckled beside Max. "That wasn't a horse. That was your mom's worse nightmare. You have no idea how many times I had to stop her from shipping it to the nearest horse farm just to keep you safe." Shaking his head in remembrance, Phillip's smile deepened with pride. "I had to keep telling her you knew what you were doing, but all those bruises you kept getting from falling and getting knocked down didn't seem to convince her any. So glad it turned out I was right. Twelve years old and you broke in the wildest, most untamable horse in the yard." "I still remember that day so clearly. Kyle ran in yelling "Max roped the Wind! Max roped the Wind!" Phillip chuckled. "Of course we had no idea what he was talking about until he dragged us to the corral. There you were with a rope around Wind Chaser's neck, leading her around like she'd been born to take directions. Jake said he'd never seen anything like it. Of course that was just the first step in breaking her, but…" Phillip continued, opening the heart of a father that was normally kept hidden. Big and warm and usually only pulled out on special occasions. This was one of them. "I was so proud of you. You know, every report card you brought home from school proved how brilliant you were, Max. But it was here you proved just how brave you are. How brilliant you are, how strong…" Phillip tapped his finger against his chest. "…in here." He paused a moment as glanced at Max in time to see him swallowed back the emotion that was lodged in the middle of his throat. "Remember how you did it?" Max cleared his throat and nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I uh…I'd sleep in the hay in her stall at night. Thought maybe if I smelled like hay she wouldn't mind me being around so much." "Till mom put a stop to that." Phillip reminded Max with a gentle nudge. Max grinned and nodded. "Yeah. She didn't think that was too safe. So, the next plan…I would dip my hands in molasses and cover them in oats. That particular day, she'd eaten everything off my one hand and while she was concentrating on the other, I slipped the rope on her neck and led her around by teasing her with the rest of her treat." Scrutinizing his son through narrowed, perceptive eyes, Phillip propped his chin on his hands. "What gave you the idea to do that anyway?" Max shoved his hands into his pockets as he watched Wind Chaser run across the field like a streak of beautiful lightening. A light of pride danced in his eyes. "She liked it. Molasses and oats. It was the only thing that seemed to calm her down when she'd get temperamental. So, I figured if I could become what she liked, maybe she'd like me. Took a lot of patience, but it actually worked." "Like I said…brilliant." Phillip confirmed quietly. At the tone of Phillips's voice, Max glanced at his father who raised a knowing eyebrow in response. Max tilted his head to the side as the unspoken message passed between father and son. Phillip verbalized it. "You know, I heard your mom say Liz was like the wind. From what I hear, she's very much like a certain wild, untamable horse you knew once upon a time." Max began to grin and his eyes began to sparkle with understanding. "Yeah. I…I can see that." "Some people need to be gentled into love, Max. Just like Wind Chaser. You tried several methods before you finally found the one that worked. You never gave up until she was yours. And now…you've got another 'Wind' to rope. Only this one will be much more rewarding when you finally do." Max reached out and put his hand on Phillip's shoulder, his heartfelt gratitude flowing with sincerity and ease. "Thank you, dad. I…I needed to be reminded of that." Phillip patted Max's hand with a teasing grin. "Like I said, I'm not the talker in the family…" Max began to chuckle when his phone suddenly interrupted the tender moment between father and son. Clicking his phone on, Max's smile disappeared when he heard the voice on the other end responding to his "Max here." “Max?” The tiny voice preceded a very loud sniffle. Max’s eyes widened in shock, his heart pounding with sudden hope. Hope he wasn’t quite sure he could trust. Maybe he was just hearing things… The voice spoke again. “Max? Mr. Prince Charming, ya there?” Shutting his eyes against the sting prickling in his eyes, Max grabbed hold of the fence for support and nodded though Jaedan certainly couldn’t see him. When he spoke her name, his voice was thick with emotion. “Jaedan?” Another sniffle. “Uh-huh.” Max’s protective senses were immediately alert and panic raced through his eyes. “Princess, what’s wrong?” “I don’t like it here.” Max's eyes connected with his now alert father. “Sweetheart, where are you? Is…is Kendall there?” “No…she’s…she’s…” Max’s question prompted a renewed wail as Jaedan’s sniffles turned to full-blown tears interspersed with barely discernible words. “I…wanna go…home...” Max’s heart ached for her. He wanted so much to just reach out and hold her. But he couldn’t. Distance and ignorance of her location prevented him. “Jaedan, sweetie, listen to me. I know you’re upset right now, honey, but we can’t talk unless you stop crying, ok? I’ve missed you so much and I really want to talk to you…find out what you’ve been up to. Do you think you can try to stop crying so we can do that? For me? Please…” “Kay.” Another stifled sniffle greeting him. Tears sprang to Max's eyes as his heart slammed against his chest. He could hear her struggling to keep her tears in check and Max smiled through the phone at her effort. "Ok, angel. Now tell me what's wrong." “I had a night gal’p.” “A night gal’p." Max repeated, shaking his head in confusion. "Honey, I don’t know what that is.” “Scarwy mo'sters and…and the Evil Wizard. He…he got my mommy." "Ok, I got it now." A measure of relief raced through Max. Bad dreams he could handle over the phone. Potentially real danger would be much more difficult to pull off. "You had a nightmare." "No. I had a night gal'p." Jaedan responded in her typically persistent way. Tears of joy brightened Max's eyes as he chuckled at that stubbornness he'd missed so much he couldn't help but verbalize it. "Oh, sweetheart, I have really missed you." Letting out a sigh of relief he didn't realize he'd been holding, Max sank against the fence and ran his fingers through his hair as he shifted his inquiry to other things. "Honey, is grandnanny with you? “Uh-huh.” “Then why didn’t you tell grandnanny you had a night gal'p?” “Cuz she’s sweepin’. I…I miss you, Max.” “Oh, sweetie…me too." Max glanced at his father and gave him a reassuring smile to let him know everything was alright on the other end of the phone before turning his full attention back to Jaedan. "How did you get my number?” “I ‘memberded it.” “Of course you did. You’re such a smart little princess.” Sinking down onto grass in front of the fence, Max's complete attention was on his phone call and Phillip stood back watching his son with increasing interest. “Do you want to tell me about your nightmare?” “No.” “Ok, you don’t have to. Do you want to make up a fairy tale with me?” Had Max been looking at Phillip, he would have seen both eyebrows rise in surprise and his mouth open in amazement. “I don’t believe in fairy tales no more.” “Oh, Jaedan…” Max’s throat choked off at the thought of a little girl so full of dreams closing herself off to the possibility of them all. Resting his forehead against his hand, Max's eyes squeezed shut and his voice softened. “I wish I was there to hug you right now.” “Me too.” Brightening with an idea, Max sat up straight. "Honey, do you know what city you're in?" "No." "Ok. Are you living with someone or are you and Grandnanny in your own house? Or apartment? Maybe a hotel room…" "We're in a house all 'lone. By ou'selfes. And there's no garden or…or Booty." Jaedan started to tear up again. "Max, we had to leave Booty behind..." "It's ok, honey. We'll get you another Beauty if Grandnanny says its ok. Alright?" Max desperately wanted to keep the conversation focused on figuring out their location. It was at that point he was damning himself for not having the tracker equipment needed to trace their call. "Does grandnanny have a phone book?" "Uh-huh." Excitement began to dance in Max's eyes. "Do you know where it is?" "Uh-huh." Punching the air in victory, Max tried to control the tremor in his voice. "Do you know your alphabet?" "Uh-huh." A bright smile lit Max's whole expression. "Ok. This is what I want you to do. I want you to get the phone book, ok? And I want you to tell me the very very first letter on the top of the book." "Kay." Max could hear her scuffling feet as she raced to follow his instructions. Max glanced up at Phillip with a bright grin. He covered the mouthpiece. "She's getting the phone book. Maybe I can figure out where she is." "Then what?" Phillip asked not quite sure what he was witnessing. Max's brows knit in confusion that the question had to even be asked. "Then I'll go to her. What else?" "Max…is it safe?" Determination flashed through Max's eyes. "I'll make it safe, dad." "Mr. Prince Charming?" "Yeah, honey." Hearing Jaedan calling him, Max immediately turned his attention back to the phone. "Did you find it?" "Uh-huh." "Ok. What's the first letter?" "Uh…I fink it's a D." "D. Ok. What's the next letter?" Silence met Max's question and he could hear her reciting her A, B, C's under her breath till she came up with the right letter. "E." Max shook his head and smiled into the phone. "Great job, angel. Now, what's the next letter?" "Oh, I don't know dis one." "That's ok, sweetie." Max pursed his lips a moment as his mind was trying to run through the names of major cities that started with DE. "Why don't you tell me the letter after that?" "Ummm…I don't know dis one either. Oh! But I know what it looks like." Max chuckled at the excitement in her voice. "Ok, then. Tell me what it looks like." "It looks like a bwird." "A bird." Max repeated with a baffled expression. "Uh-huh. Like in the sky. When it's weally, weally high up." Max looked up at Phillip and covered the mouthpiece again, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Is there a letter that looks like a bird in the sky?" Phillip thought for a moment as he mentally ran through the alphabet then shrugged his shoulders. "The only thing I can think of is a V." Max snapped his fingers. "That's it. Thanks, dad." Speaking back into the phone, he continued his conversation. "Jaedan, tell me the letter after that." "It's an E." "Alright. So we have D. E. Letter we don't know. V. E…" Max's eyes snapped up to meet Phillip's. "Denver." Phillip grinned and pride and nodded. "Denver." Max sighed into the phone. "Angel, you are the best. Now I need you to look at one more thing for me ok?" "Kay." "I want you to look at your phone and tell me if there are numbers written on it. On the inside where the buttons are." "Uh…" Max could hear Jaedan fumbling with the phone and he couldn't stop the grin on his face. For weeks he'd been searching. Countless hours he'd poured into phone calls and asking for favors. He'd made personal appeals to friends, like Alex, and had searched for his brother to get even the slightest hint of where Liz and Jaedan could be. All it took was a phone call. One lonely little heart reaching out across the miles to connect with a Mr. Prince Charming she barely knew but trusted with everything she had. Max felt tears of relief and joy stinging the back of his eyes. For the first time in weeks, he felt a sense of real hope. And a confidence wash over him that whispered everything was going to turn out just the way it was meant to. "Kay." Jaedan's voice pulled Max back to the present. "Got it! There's a five. Then anodder five. Then anodder five." Max glanced at his dad and made a writing motion with his hand. Phillip pulled out a pen and small note pad out of his pocket and handed them to Max. "Alright sweetie. That was 555…what's the rest?" "Uh…eight. Then one. And a fwor. Then eight." Writing each number as Jaedan said it, Max began to nod his head. "You are the most amazing princess I have ever met, do you know that?" Jedan giggled into the phone and Max couldn't help chuckling along with her before sobering a moment to give further instructions. "Listen, honey…what we just did…you giving letters and numbers to me over the phone…I don't want to do that with anyone else, ok? And don't tell Grandnanny that you talked to me. Don't even tell her you made the call. Alright?" "Kay." "You understand about not giving out your letters and numbers to anyone else, right? It's very, very important that you don't." "How come?" Max leaned back against the fence again and let out a sigh. "Because I'm going to come visit you and I want it to be a surprise, ok?" He could hear the gasp in her voice and the tears that were certainly shining in her eyes. "You are? Weally, weally are?" "I really, really am." Max grinned up at his dad as his eyes began to shine with anticipation. "In fact, I'll be seeing you tomorrow." The gasp was extra loud this time. Max began to chuckle at Jaedan's sudden exuberance. "Oh! You gonna come t'morra?" "Yes, angel. Tomorrow. Until then…" Max stood up and tore the paper off the note pad and handed it back to his father with a nod of thanks. "Do you have Boo Boo Bear?” “Uh-huh." The grin on Max's face couldn't be erased now. "Ok. I want you to get Boo Boo Bear and hug him reeeeally tight, ok?" Max's eyes drifted closed as a dream of his whispered across the miles to a little girl who understood better than anyone in the world exactly what Max was feeling. "That's your hug from me, princess. See, Boo Boo Bear and I are connected and he'll keep you safe and he'll keep you warm just the way I would if I were there. Nothing bad can touch you now. Not the Evil Wizard or the scary monsters in your night gal'p as long as you're holding Boo Boo Bear. Just don't let go until I get there, ok?" "Kay." There was one slight pause, then Jaedan melted Max's heart all over again. "I wuv you, Max." Max swallowed back the tears that threatened to fall as his smile deepened. "I love you too, princess. I'll see you tomorrow…" As soon as the call was ended, Max hit his speed dial. "Tom. It's me. I need the jet ready to roll in an hour." Max's eyes met his father's. "Destination…Denver." As soon as he clicked off the phone, he headed toward the truck followed by Phillip. Slipping into the seat, he glanced at Max before putting the key in the ignition. "You're sure about this, son?" Gaze focused on a galloping beauty across the field, Max's eyes danced with passionate determination. "Oh, yes. It's been way too long since I've roped the wind, dad. Way too long…" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (Present day) Eyes never wavering from hers, he closed the distance between them in a heartbeat. Slowly, seductively circling Liz, Max unconsciously breathed in her scent as if it were the sweetest thing in the world and smiled into her hair when he finally stopped behind her. She could feel his chest rising and falling against her back with each gentle breath. Eyes fluttering closed, Liz fought the urge to lean back against him when his feather-light fingers slid down her arm to engulf her hand in his. Liz shivered when he swept her hair out of the way, his fingers tangling in the long strands, his heated breath tickling her ear. "Rachel Harris, you and I…have a lot to talk about..." Liz's chest rose and fell as quick, ragged breaths and her head began to spin dizzily from a sudden lack of air. Her mouth was instantly dry and her words were pushed out in incoherent, out of order phrases. "About Rachel…talk you…we…a lot…" She shook her head slightly as if to clear her thoughts. "I…I mean…we talk…" Max's light chuckle in her ear sent the blood rushing to her cheeks, heating them with inner flames of passion. The light brush of his fingertips running up her arm caused her body to visibly shudder. Running his fingers back down her arm, he leaned into her making sure his entire body was in contact with hers. Liz sighed as she leaned back against him, swallowing hard at the sensations that action alone sent through her entire body. She was floating on a cloud. Every inch of her was relaxed. She could barely feel her toes in the haze of desire descending on her. And yet, she was completely alive. Vibrating with intense energy. Nerves taut and eager with anticipation. The heat from his breath was moist against her skin as he continued to whisper in her ear. "Relax. This can be as painless as a kiss. Or…" Max moved to whisper in her other ear. "…as excruciating as a board meeting at the Graham's…" A smile started on her lips at his inside joke but morphed into a surprised gasp when Max's hands swiftly moved to her waist and spun her around. Her chest hitched breathlessly and her hands instinctively grabbed hold of Max's shoulders for support. Intense midnight gaze locked on her lips, Max unconsciously licked his own lips. "I prefer…a kiss…" He leaned in ever so slightly. Liz mirrored his action with half closed eyes. Mimicking the action of a kiss, Max's lips never once touched hers as his nose lightly nuzzled hers, teasing her with the promise of things to come then pulling back only to repeat the action like a perfectly timed dance. Tormenting. Seducing. Enticing. An almost inaudible sound of frustration escaped from the back of Liz's throat as she licked her lips in helpless anticipation. A sexy smirk lifted one corner of Max's lips knowingly and his eyes danced with devilish delight as his hands fanned out over Liz's hips pulling her lower body into him. The whisper was breathed tauntingly against her lips. "Tell me what you want. Right here. Right now." Fingers curling into the material of his suit jacket, Liz's eyes drifted closed as she leaned toward him. Her one word answer echoed breathlessly through the room. "You." Liz instantly felt a chill sweep through her body as Max ceased all contact and stepped back from her, tilting his head to the side apologetically. "Sorry. I'm not on the menu for lunch." One playful wink and Max breezed past her, heading straight toward the door. Liz blinked in surprise at how swiftly the atmosphere changed from sultry seduction to casual amusement. She turned around to see his retreating back and Max continued speaking as if the last few minutes had never happened. As if the ground beneath his feet wasn't shaking. As if he hadn't been envisioning the two of them performing the most intimate of acts on Liz's office desk. His tone was light and irritatingly calm. "Although, I'm sure the chef would be more than happy to prepare anything your little heart desires." Opening the door Max turned toward her and gestured at the hall with an upraised eyebrow, twinkling eyes and a winning smile. "Shall we, Ms. Harris?" Tbc… [ edited 1time(s), last at 28-May-2002 12:29:09 AM ] |
| posted on 2-Jun-2002 8:00:25 PM by Ashton |
| Hey all!!!
Here's the next part. Hope you enjoy!!! Definitely having fun with this one!!! As usual, I love hearing what you think!!! Thanks ever sooo much for the support!!! I'll either be working on the next part of this or TWT next so look for either one soon!
BehrHugs, Ashton ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ chapter 4 ~ Liz Parker's blood was boiling. Her face was flushed. Her eyes, glazed. With anger. With frustration. With embarrassment. She hadn't known what to expect from Max when he knocked on the door of her office. She still didn't. That he could relentlessly tease her as some sort of twisted form of revenge was certainly within the grasp of his personality, his capabilities and his irresistible charm. But that she would fall for it so swiftly and so completely…well, that was just something that would not…could not happen again. Ever. That was twice now…twice…that he had asked her what she wanted and that one word 'you' had slipped…no, **raced** out of her mouth as naturally is if she were breathing. What in God's name was she thinking? Ah, but **that** right there would be the problem. She wasn't thinking. She was responding. She was reacting. She was letting him call the shots. Well, THAT portion of the play was over. With a man like Max Evans there was a well spring of carefully concealed emotions lying just under a well-crafted surface. Just waiting to break free. She had learned that lesson very well that day in his office. The passion with which that man could respond to her was downright frightening…and oh, so very exhilarating. He had the power to make her feel…irresistible. And that was something she hadn't felt since…well, never. She could use that to her advantage. His obvious attraction and intense desire for her. If only she dared. But that was a very, very high, dangerous tight rope she'd have to walk if she went that direction. Too dangerous. Way too dangerous. So, perhaps that wasn't the best way to handle Max Evans at this point. Especially since the track record so far showed that he would end up being the one to handle her…not the other way around. It was equally obvious that there was a multitude of normal, instinctive responses just waiting to be tapped from the depths of Max's buried heart. Responses she could prompt and exploit. Because, obviously, he wasn't acting normal for a man in his situation. He'd been jilted. In a fairly cruel way. He shouldn't be smiling and teasing and acting as if that day in his office had never happened. Or, at least the portions of it that were painful. And he shouldn't be acting as if she'd dropped off the face of the earth and they hadn't had contact of any kind since. Or, for that matter, he shouldn't be oblivious to the fact that his fiancee of fifteen minutes was now sporting a brand new name. He should be hurt. Curious. Angry. And…vindictive. Not sexy. And charming. And…polite. That was what bothered her. His politeness. His…controlled air of cultured geniality. As if she were just some other person he'd just met instead of the woman he'd asked to spend the rest of his life with. Granted, she highly doubted he would have come on as strongly and seductively to someone he'd just met the way he had just done with her, but that made his distant, obligatory smiles cut even more deeply. Confused, baffled and utterly at a loss, Liz Parker would simply have to make it up as she went along. And hope to God he didn't try to kiss her… "Mmmm. Looks like something's been aroused." The seductive, double-edged words were lightly breathed in Liz's ear as Max stepped close behind her after shutting her office door. Instantly frozen in place, Liz glanced up at him, her eyes wide with surprise at his bold words. And at the way he was touching her as one hand heavily rested against her hip, fingers curling into her flesh, teasingly light. Alluring possessive. Calculatingly tantalizing. Liz's cheeks burned bright as the heat of his touch melted through the fabric of her skirt and seared her skin. Max responded with a knowing smirk. Dark eyes locked with Liz's began dancing with devilish delight as Max quirked an eyebrow toward the waiting staff to clarify his comment. "Curiosity. Suspicions. Innuendo." Turning toward the seemingly abundant number of office staffers, Max's smirk deepened as one more whisper directed into her ear sent a shiver racing through Liz. "Looks like you and I have created quite a stir." Liz's gaze shifted to her co-workers as they milled around office spaces, desperately trying to act as if they were working when in reality they were all waiting anxiously to watch the dynamic duo's interaction with each other. And to divvy up their bets as to exactly what happened in Liz's office the second Max and Liz walked out the door. Liz stiffened and squared her shoulders as a furious blush flooded her cheeks. "Let's…just go." Tilting his head in deference to her request, Max held out the hand not touching her as his other gave the curve of her hip a lingering caress before moving to the small of her back. "Ladies first…" A forced smile tightened her lips as she walked down the hall with him. Acutely aware of every last eye on their retreating forms, Liz's gaze remained steadfastly locked on the exit sign. She forced her body not to feel the intense heat radiating off of his body as his very presence threatened to engulf her. He was doing it again. He was being polite. Way too polite. The warm hand at the small of her back that lightly guided her from her office down the hall, out the lobby and toward his waiting car was…gentlemanly. A complete contrast to his behavior of only seconds before. To the heated words whispered in her ear. To the predatory way he'd circled her, igniting a fever in the pit of her stomach. His nods to the staff they passed, genial and stately. Like a king imparting his passing blessing to a waiting, curious crowd. His practiced smile never quite reaching the depths of his eyes. The casual flair with which he slipped his sunglasses on only seconds before stepping into the hot California sun caused Liz to shiver involuntarily. The sheer presence of power and confidence lived in the air surrounding him. It took everything in Liz's power not to be affected by it. Drawn into it's warm. Overcome by its intoxicating influence. Opening the passenger door to a sports car waiting by the curb, the smile that haunted Max's lips matched the aura of the jet black Jaguar. Sleek. Dark. Dangerous. Predatory. Breath catching in her chest, Liz stared at Max a moment, uncertainty dancing in her eyes. An arrogant smirk curled the corner of his lips upward as Max tilted his head toward the open door. She didn't have to see his eyes to know what was waiting for her there…an obvious unspoken challenge dancing, hidden behind his sunglasses. Liz's chin instantly raised in defiance as she quirked an eyebrow at him and slipped into the leather interior with much more confidence than she was feeling. As Max shut the door behind her and rounded the front of the car, Liz could feel a heated flush rising on her cheeks. His focused gaze bypassed midnight sunglasses to pierce her through the windshield. Though unseen, she could feel its blaze. Intense. Intimidating. Mesmerizing. It took him only a matter of seconds to reach the driver's door and as he slipped behind the wheel, Liz Parker stiffened perceptibly in her seat. Eyes steadfastly focused on the chaotic world just beyond the car, she steeled herself against the butterflies dancing in her stomach. Her fingernails bit into her leather seat and her feet unconsciously braced against the floorboard as she readied herself for whatever form of punishment he planned to dish out now that they were truly alone. Anticipatory silence reigned as Max's focus shifted to safely pulling his car onto the busy L.A. road and only once they'd reached a reasonable speed of travel did Max attempt any sort of conversation. Once he did, Liz Parker couldn't believe her ears. "So, Rachel…" Max hooked his index finger over his glasses to pull them down the bridge of his nose revealing those mesmerizing amber eyes of his as he cast a sidelong glance in Liz's direction. His infuriating politeness continued as an inquiring eyebrow raised. "May I call you Rachel?" The question caught Liz completely off guard. She just stared at him, her eyes wide with bewilderment. Rachel? He was still going to address her as…Rachel? She'd expected anything but that. She'd expected questions or recriminations or the infuriatingly frustrating teasing or…hell, she didn't know what she was expecting, but it certainly wasn't to still be addressed as Rachel when they were alone. Seeing he'd caught her off guard, a slight shrug of Max's shoulders was her response as he turned his attention back to the road. Not before Liz caught a glimmer of amusement in his eyes that clearly made its way to his voice. "I guess I can take **that** as a yes that'll stick longer than it takes to walk out of a room." Instantly hit by Max's not so subtle jab, Liz's chest hitched as she lost her breath mid-inhale. She opened her mouth to speak. "I…" Max continued as if he didn't even notice. "So, Rachel. Stephanie has told me a lot about the work you've done at ACC. I'll admit, I'm very impressed. That doesn't happen often, just so you know. And I thought since we'll be working together closely on this project that perhaps we can get to know each other on a more…personal level." Deferring to her with a slight inclination of his head, he added with a seemingly endless level of cultured politeness. "That is…if you have no objections." Barely waiting for the helpless sound of response to escape Liz when she opened her mouth to speak, Max once more continued as if her agreement or protest were of no real concern to him. "If you've heard anything about me at all, I'm sure you've heard that I have a reputation for being ruthless in business. I'm also known for being clever, crafty, a complete shark in the boardroom with few rivals who can truly best me out of any deal. And anyone who does, finds their way to the short end of a long stick before they can even blink." Pride and arrogance laced his words and there was a decided flash of conceit in his eyes. "I'm the best. Everyone knows it." A sexy smirk flitted across his lips as he glanced at Liz. "The same, I'll admit, has been said of my, uh…" Max paused and pursed his lips as if looking for the right word. Having found it, his eyebrows wiggled suggestively in time with the deliverance of his chosen vocabulary. "…talents…in the bedroom." His smirk deepened and a sly wink sailed Liz's way. "But I'll leave you to judge that one for yourself." Glancing in the rearview mirror with an air of nonchalance, Max smoothly maneuvered the car into the next lane. Liz took the opportunity to once more try to get a word in. "Max…" A word was all she got. "Truth is, Rachel…I'm not as bad as they say. In fact…" He leaned over in his seat and lowered his voice as if imparting some great conspiratorial secret about himself. "I'm actually a one woman guy. And…I must admit, I come with a sob story that usually gets me a lot of sympathy sex offers." Letting out an exaggerated sigh, Max shook his head in disapproval and Liz could just imagine the roll of his eyes behind the dark sunglasses he'd pushed back up to his eyes. "You have **no** idea how many..." As if ticking off each offer with his fingers, Max's lips pursed in concentrated thought. "We're talking Kiki in Kauai. Simone in Paris. Tawny in Monaco. Marguerita in Madrid. Oh, and let's not even count the marriage proposals. God, Diana was positively relentless, insisting on a quick trip to her villa in the Greek Islands for ocean side nuptials. And that was on the night we met. Oh, and Amanda…the woman had the entire wedding planned before we ever laid eyes on each other. Apparently she'd seen my picture in a magazine and assumed she was the one and only that could tame this tiger. I had to duck out on her when she went to powder her nose or else I would be a married man today. Then there was Bambi." Max slipped Liz a reminding look. "Old flame of mine. Dumb as a surfboard, but God, does she have a body…" "Max, I **really** don’t want to hear…." Terse and full of envy, Liz attempted to stop his non-stop ramble about the women of the world that wanted him. "Oh, don't worry." Max held up a hand of silence as he bit back a smile of amusement and decided to relieve and push the envelope all in the same breath. "I didn't actually take anyone up on those offers. Although, let me tell you…very, very tempting. I mean, what red blooded American man wouldn't be tempted by weekends in various paradises with perfect models that have legs that go on for miles…" Shaking his head, Max released a low sigh of wistful regret. "….**very** hard to pass up." "So…you may be asking yourself, why did I then?" Letting out another dramatic sigh, Max shrugged. "Like I said…sob story. See, I fell in love. I mean, we're talking head-over-heels, this is 'The One' kind of love. Even asked her to marry me, although if the rag mags get wind of this I'll deny every bit of it. Because you see, it's a little bit embarrassing. A confirmed playboy like myself nursing a broken heart doesn't really match the uh…persona…that I've tried so hard to cultivate." "Max, please…" Cutting her off abruptly, Max wagged his head from side to side as if chiding himself. "I know. I know. I'm stalling." Another deep sigh. "Alright. So, here's what happened. In a moment of spontaneous, unrestrained passion, I proposed." He glanced in her direction. Though she couldn't see his eyes, she could certainly hear the level of intimacy in his voice. "I really did. I mean…me of all people. I offered to chuck the single, playboy life and settle down to a life of wedded bliss. You know the kind I'm talking about, right? Complete with honor and love, trust, cherishing and all of that…" Voice returning to self-depreciating humor, a sardonic smile skipped across his lips. "Well, let me tell you, never was a man more surprised than I was when she actually said yes. Of course, you'd have to know this particular woman to understand why that would be the case, but that's all beside the point because after agreeing to marry me…" Max paused to take a breath from his rambling sentence. "…she just…disappeared. Took off without a trace. Left no forwarding address. Never called…" Taking his sunglasses completely off to cast a curious glance in Liz's direction, Max frowned slightly as he tilted his head to the side. "Huh. You know…now that I think about it…you kinda remind me of her…" That was the last straw. Liz had taken each jab in silence. She'd endure him going on about sexy models offering themselves to him. She'd even listened as he flippantly reduced their powerful connection to a few trite, over used phrases complete with the invisible quotation marked inflection of his voice. That he'd taken their…whatever…and turned it into a meaningless story to garner sympathy from the adoring female population of the world, made Liz's already simmering blood boil. But when he still refused to acknowledge the seriousness of what happened between them by turning it into a joke…well, that's pretty much when Liz Parker exploded… "Dammit, Max, would you just stop?!" The hitch in Liz's voice caused Max to slyly scrutinize her profile out of the corner of his eye. She was blinking rapidly a sure sign there were tears gathering behind those big doe eyes of hers. And she was biting her lower lip to keep an explosion from erupting unexpectedly. He didn't want to hurt her, but he also couldn't help the flash of satisfaction that raced through him. Tears in this case could be a good thing. They meant she still had a heart. Still cared. Still felt things that Max was counting on her to feel. To the casual observer, Max Evans was paying little to no attention to his passenger. She could have been a statue for all he allowed her to express herself and it wouldn't have made a difference to him. In fact, she was, for all intents and purposes, just a body with a pair of ears for him to ramble on about himself in a conceited, self-absorbed fashion. That was to the casual observer. At that moment, Max Evans couldn't have been further from the picture he was projecting. He heard every sharp intake of breath that had escaped Liz throughout his story. He noticed the way her knuckles changed from olive to death pale white when he was going on about meaningless sex during weekends in paradise. He saw the tremor of her lips when he admitted to being head over heels in love. And he watched her eyes drift closed in regret when he talked about her disappearance. Still, he was tried to keep the façade in place. Remaining innocently aloof, Max pretended to misunderstand her statement and appeared to be looking around as if he'd just missed something. "I'm sorry. Was there a store you needed to go to before lunch?" Fury pouring out of her eyes, Liz swung in her seat to face him. "God, Max, would you just stop playing the damn mind games!" "Frankly?" Though he tried to keep his tone light, there was an increased level of emotion. "I really don't think you could handle it if I did stop." "Oh, really." Liz's voice hardened. "Well, I have news for you, Max Evans, I can handle anything honest you want to dish out. What you're doing now…it's just plain torture. It's obvious we have unfinished business so why not just get it out in the open and deal with it instead of this cat and mouse game you're playing, huh? Or maybe straightforward is just a little out of your league." "Don't bet on that." "Want to know what I think?" Liz crossed her arms in front of her. "I think you're playing games right now because you're the one who can't handle being real!" Irritation instantly flared in his eyes turning them blacker than midnight. His jaw tightened in synch with his hands on the wheel. "Me? ME…not able to handle…" His gaze snapped to hers, a complete look of disbelief claiming his expression. His words came out clipped and terse. "You have some nerve. Who is the one who put their heart on the line huh? Yeah, me. And who's the one who walked away?" Eyebrows raising in triumph when Liz's gaze shifted uncomfortably, Max nodded once responding to her unspoken answer. "Exactly. Oh, and by the way, about not being real…it's nice to meet you Pot, my name is Kettle. I don't think we've met yet, but from what I hear you like to call me a lot of ugly names." "This is ridiculous!" Liz practically yelled. Spinning back in her seat to face the front of the car, Liz let out an exasperated growl as she frantically push the hair back from her face in agitation. "Just…just take me back. Take me back to the office right now. Or…or drop me off at the bus station. Or…something. Anything. I just…I have to get out of here." Talking more to herself now than anyone else, Liz shook her head. "I have no idea what I was thinking. That you and I could actually have an honest to God conversation is so completely out of the realm of possibilities that I…" Liz let out a squeal of surprise and alarm when Max jerked his car from the left lane across two lanes of traffic onto the shoulder, slammed the brakes on, shoved the gear into park and ripped his seatbelt off in one fluid motion. Liz Parker was in his arms in a heartbeat. Pressed between Max's body and the passenger side door, Liz had only a millisecond of warning in which the rest of the world faded into Max's midnight black eyes sparking with fire as they locked on hers. His heated whisper sent a current of electricity through her body. "You want to talk, baby, let's talk…" Passion exploded between them like a time bomb that had just been waiting for the seconds to count down. Max's lips were the final detonation. Crushed in a blindingly intense kiss, Liz's felt as if her lips were on fire. Burning. Pulsating. Coursing with explosive energy. There was only a second of shock in which she didn't respond, then Liz Parker let out a moan of pleasure that reverberated from her body straight into his. Arms instantly circling his neck, Liz melted into Max Evans with an intensity that matched his ounce for ounce. And Max was completely lost. Drowning in an ocean of staggering sensations. Reason erased, Max wasn't thinking of the silky hair slipping through his fingers. Or the warm, probing tongue relentlessly sliding along his. Or the soft, supple body curving into his like a perfectly matched instrument designed for his own unique brand of music. But he felt it all. Every frantic touch. Each penetrating kiss. The scrape of her fingers through his hair. Every tiny squeak, sigh, and moan that Liz made. They were all burned into his memory with perfect clarity. Liz wasn't fairing much better in the thinking department. Sensations were clearly on overload. She'd ceased feeling the leather arm of the passenger door pressed uncomfortably into her back as the heat from Max's body washed over her. Feeling like a lump of clay being melted and molded into everything Max Evans wanted, Liz vaguely realized that every inch of her body became like Max's second skin. But she felt it all. Doubling her relentless pursuit of the tangy sweetness of his kisses, Liz knew that's where she wanted to live and breathe the rest of her life. In the depths of a Max Evans kiss. Sucking and prodding and penetrating so deep that she felt her entire soul being explored, there was so much passion, so much emotion conveyed in his kisses that Liz felt tears pressing the back of her eyes. Then something amazing happened. An unexpected tear fell. Slipping past tightly closed eyes, the silver tear made an errant path down Liz Parker's cheek. And Max Evans felt it slip along his fingers as he caressed her face. Any previous frustration-born passion melted into an overwhelming rush of love. The kisses slowed. And deepened. Even more emotion transferred from the heart of Max Evans through lingering kisses. Caresses became gentle, tender. In his arms, Liz Parker became a fragile treasure to be gingerly sheltered. She shivered against the shift of emotion. Then she sighed into his mouth. It was the sigh of a wanderer coming home after a long, endless journey. A sigh of contentment and peace. Needing air, Max pulled on Liz's bottom lip as he reluctantly ceased contact with the intimacy of her mouth. Leaning his forehead against hers, his ragged, shallow breathing matched hers. Thumb lightly brushing against swollen, red lips Max's eyes drifted closed as emotion slipped through his words. "Thank God you're still my wild, untamable wind." Blinking back tears, Liz pulled back to look at him, her expression full of wonder and awe. Of all the things he could have said…of all the things he could be feeling… She simply stared at him trying to figure out what kind of man was sitting in front of her. His eyes opened to meet hers and his finger caught yet another tear as it tumbled helplessly down her face. "You're…you're not mad at me? "Furious." Max whispered as he longingly traced the line of her lips once more. His eyes raised to meet hers with a hint of amusement. "But let's not go there just yet." Liz squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed hard. She leaned back against the door and put her hands on Max's chest, feeling the heartbeat that pounded with such strength. Forcing herself to think and not feel, Liz's voice shook with emotion. "How did you find me?” Liz’s question instantly sparked a memory from a month earlier… “You can stop with the puppy dog eyes, Max. I’m not going to tell you where she is.” Max let out a sigh as he pushed his dinner plate away from him. Eyes trained on Angel as she got up from her seat and began to clear away the table, he tried another approach that sounded very much like a little boy trying to convince his arch enemy on the playground that his dad is bigger and better than the other’s. “I’m going to find her, you know. I have connections. And money. Which, by the way, can be a very, very powerful combination.” A slight, indulgent smile touched Angel’s lips as she glanced up at Max. “I’m sure they can be.” Pulling a towel from a drawer, she began to run water into the sink before adding dish soap. Max continued his appeal. “You really have no idea just how powerful. And you know, when I put my mind to getting something done, I get it done. And finding Liz is on the top of my priority list. So, finding her is pretty much a done deal.” “I’m sure it is.” Angel replied calmly before turning the water off. Glancing back at the table, her eyes rested on the plate in front of Max. “No free loaders in this house, Mr. Rich and Powerful. Get your butt over to the sink and bring that plate with you.” “Yes, mom.” Max teased with a chuckle as he slipped form his seat and delivered his dinnerware to Angel. When Angel handed Max the towel, a dark eyebrow raised teasingly. “I take it I’m drying?” Angel nodded with a grin and began dipping dishes into the sink. After a few moments of silent cooperation, Angel handed a plate to Max and began stating her position slowly. “I can’t tell you, Max. No matter how much I may want to, I can’t. Liz is like my own daughter. The only real family I have left. I can’t go against her wishes. Not even for such a good cause as you.” “And those wishes would be…?” Max prompted as he added a serving bowl to the pile of dry dished on the counter and took another that Angel was offering. “For you not to find her.” “I see.” Max’s hands abruptly stopped drying the dish in mid-swipe as he pursed his lips in thought. “Did she specifically state she didn’t want me to find her or does she just not want to be found…period?” "She hasn't mentioned your name since the day she left New Haven. Stubbornly refuses to talk about you or whatever happened between you at your office. I'm assuming it was pretty intense considering her reaction every time I've tried to bring it up." Max swallowed hard, his question a mere whisper. "What was her reaction?" "Tears." The one word answer was enough for Max's own eyes to grow misty. Letting out a weary sigh, Angel paused, her gaze drifting out the window into the back yard where Jaedan was sitting on her swing playing with her doll. “I’m very glad you're here.” The sadness in her voice caused Max to look over at her sharply. “You mean all of this stonewalling isn’t because you’re sore at me for showing up unexpectedly and blowing your cover?” Shaking her head Angel's silence was finally broken with intense seriousness. "Do you know we almost didn't have a Jaedan to love? Or even Liz for that matter?" Max's eyes instantly followed Angel's gaze to rest on Jaedan playing quietly outside. He remained silent instinctively knowing Angel was about to give him another rare glimpse into the workings of Liz Parker's heart. As well as her own. "We had it all planned. Chris was out of town for a few days and Liz was to go about her normal routine so as not to raise any suspicions. And that night we were going to help her escape that monster." Max's hands continued to dry absently…slowly, his attention on the story unfolding so vividly in his mind. "Chris found out somehow. I have no idea how…" Shoulders drooping wearily, Angel shook her head at the memory. "Everything was ready. Liz was halfway out the door when she remembered something important she'd forgotten. She ran back inside against our wishes and there Chris was. There was shouting and a scuffle. We could hear her hit the floor when he smacked her. Jay and Dan instantly ran in and got involved. Guns were fired…" A thin film of tears filled Angel's eyes. "My husband and son were killed that night and Liz was critically wounded by a bullet that her own husband shot. The doctors weren't sure she would make it, let alone the baby. But they both pulled through. She had a difficult pregnancy because of it but…" Angel smiled with love and pride through her tears. "…the day that little girl was born was the best day. A new life. A new start. Liz named her in honor of my husband, Jay, and my son, Dan. Two very good men who simply tried to do what was right." "My God." Overcome with horror at the events that night had put both women through, Max's voice was thick with unexpected emotion. "I'm…I'm so sorry, Angel." "I didn't tell you for that." Angel's voice was tight with renewed grief. "I told you so you would understand the lengths Liz will go for her baby. The lengths we'll will both go. How hard she'll fight to keep her alive and safe. What she means to us…" Max slowly put a dried glass on the counter then braced himself with both hands as he hung his head, his lips pursed in thought. His question was full of uncertainty and fear of impending rejection. "Do you want me to leave?" "God, no." Angel answered quickly. Max's head snapped up at her response and his eyes warmed with relief when they met hers. "Now that you're here, I'm dreading the day you do leave. You have no idea what you're coming here has meant to me. To her…our little Jaedan…" Blinking back the tears of the past, Angel pulled in a steeling breath. “I’ve been so worried about her.” Max’s gaze shifted back to the dark haired imp out in the back yard who had so completely captured his heart. “Why?” “She’s been…” Angel paused trying to choose the right word. The only thing that came to mind was “…not Jaedan.” Worry flashed in Max’s eyes. “What do you mean?” “You know the excited little princess you fell in love with? The one that’s full of fairy tales and has an imagination that’s unrivaled by most adults let alone children her age?" At Max's silent nod, Angel continued. "Well, she’s been missing for a while now." Shrugging, Angel moved from the sink to wipe her hands on a towel lying on the counter. Turning she leaned against the counter to face Max. "At first it was all a game. Traveling from one city to another. That imagination of hers got to feast on so many new places she just stared in awe at times and jabbered endlessly about her new imaginary worlds at others." "What changed?" "Knowing there wasn't a city we were going to where her Kendall would be waiting for her. Realizing her Mr. Prince Charming wouldn’t be able to find her if she kept moving father and father away from her garden chapel where they met." Shaking her head, Angel's gaze shifted to a recent past that had been obviously difficult for her. "She’s been very withdrawn. She doesn’t talk about her fairy tales any more. Doesn’t have her ‘invincible’ subjects around her or her garden fancies. It's a fight sometimes just to get her to talk. And all of her childish excitement has just…disappeared." Eyes raising to meet Max's, Angel wearily sank further against the counter. “She is with me every day, Max, but I have missed her so much.” “Then today…" A bittersweet smile touched Angel's lips. "…she was up before the sun. Bouncing around like a kangaroo with that old light in her eyes. Hugging Boo Boo bear as if he were her last friend on earth.” Her smile became warm as it reached her eyes. “I knew something was up. I should have known it was you.” “Why do you say that?” “Because there are only two people in this world who light her up from the inside. You and Liz.” Taking a step forward, Angel placed a pleading hand on Max's arm. "I need you to stay, Max. I need you to be here longer than a day or two before you fly off again in search of Liz. I need her to believe again that the people she loves the most aren't going to abandon her." "Has Liz had no contact with her?" "Of course she has. Every night we call her on a secured line so they can talk. It's just not enough for Jaedan. For that matter, it's not enough for Liz, even though she'll never complain." Pleading eyes met his. "Please, Max. Tell me you'll stay. I…I know it's an inconvenience and that you have a life and don't need to be burdened with our problems…" A warm hand covered hers as an equally warm smile reached his eyes. "I'll stay as long as you need me to, Angel…" Though his promise was secure, he couldn't help the teasing glint that flashed in his eyes as he tried to capitalize on his new found popularity. "…as long as you tell me where Liz is." Relief washing over her, Angel rolled her eyes with a chuckle. "You are relentless." "I'm in love." Max answered back quietly, his gaze not meeting hers. Shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other, Max stuffed his hands in his pockets, clearly still not used to the admission that was so obvious and so true. "None of this is a burden to me and I really don't have a life if Liz and Jaedan and you aren't in it. I can make her happy, Angel. I can make them both so happy. I just…I need the chance to prove that." "And you'll get it, Max." Angel answered encouragingly. “Just as sure as I am that you will indeed find Liz.” Eyes meeting hers questioningly, Max began to grin. "With your help?" Taking a deep breath, Angel's eyes began to dance with conspiratorial mischief. "Now you know I can't tell you where she is, right? I've made my position on that subject perfectly clear…" "Riight…" Max prompted with a devilish nod. Pursing her lips, Angel shrugged nonchalantly as she once again picked up the towel and began to wipe down the counter. "I also can't stop you from sniffing around on you own, say…" Clearing her throat she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. Almost bursting to laughter at the little-boy eagerness plastered on his face, Angel gave in, her voice lowering to a whisper." "…in the top drawer of my nightstand. In my address book. Looking for a new name that you happen to be very, very familiar with..." Before Angel got the rest of the sentence out, Max had already disappeared from the room forcing Angel to call out after him. "Remember I told you nothing…" "Max?" Liz's inquiring voice pulled Max back to the present. "How did you find me?" “Here…under your seat. There’s a packet.” Leaning slightly forward, Max reached under Liz's seat, his hand in search of something. Pulling it out, Max sat back and held it out to her. Noticing Liz's hesitance, Max smirked at Liz. “It’s not going to bite you. Just…take a look.” Biting her lower lip, Liz cautiously took the leather portfolio from Max and unzipped it. Flipping the cover open, her eyes immediately began to mist when her gaze fell on the first item inside. Fingers lovingly touched the top page and one whispered word slipped out of Liz's mouth. "Jaedan.” "Jaedan." Max confirmed as he reached over and tapped the picture. "She painted a picture a day for every day you’ve been separated.” Max commented softly as he scrutinized Liz's expression. "She misses you so much." Liz's gaze flicked up to meet his. "But how did you…" "She called me one night." A bittersweet smile touched his lips in remembrance. "She'd had a…night gal'p." Worry instantly raced through Liz's eyes and she sat up straight. "She had a nightmare? What…what was she…" "She was terrified of never seeing you again." Max answered quietly, his gaze shifting from Liz's face to gaze at his hands. "Unfortunately, or I guess in this case it was a good thing for Jaedan…" Max wet his suddenly dry lips. "…I completely understood her fear." "Max…" "Don't, ok?" Max instantly held up his hand to stop any explanations. "I don't want your apologies or attempts to explain. Not yet." He let out a sigh and met her worried, pain filled gaze. "I just…I just want to sit with you right now and know that you're ok." Max gave her a pointed look. "Are you?" Blinking at his penetrating gaze, Liz cleared her throat and shrugged nonchalantly. Her off handed remarks and forced excitement spoke volumes as to her state of mind. "Of course, I am. I mean…how can you not be ok in L.A.? With the beaches and the sun and all the stars you run into. You know, it's been really great. I've made great friends and love my job and my apartment is just great. Everything's really…great." "Kendall." Liz's gaze snapped up to meet his at the use of her name as he knew it. A name she hadn't heard for two months. Max gently reached out and took her face in his hands, his intense penetrating gaze boring into her eyes as if he were searching for the answers of the universe. Having found what he was looking for, Max shook his head slightly. "You're not ok." Shifting back to his seat, Max reached up and grabbed his seatbelt locking it in place. "But it's alright. You will be." He turned the key in the ignition. Confusion raced through her eyes as she watched Max instantly shift emotional gears. He clearly had more than lunch on his mind. "Max, where are we going…" "Just trust me, ok?" Max looked back over at Liz, his determined expression softened with understanding. "Look…you're not going to lose anything by giving in just this one time. I promise I won't expect you to trust me tomorrow if that's what you're afraid of." Reaching over and taking her hand in his, Max's voice softened. "Just…trust me for today. For the next hour. That's all I ask. Can you do that?" Fighting a well of tears at Max's innate goodness, Liz bit down on her lower lip and nodded silently. She received a warm smile in response and Max's hand drifted upward to softly caress her cheek. "Ok." "Ok." Liz repeated softly before Max turned his attention to the road and their unrevealed destination. Tbc… [ edited 2time(s), last at 2-Jun-2002 9:24:27 PM ] |
| posted on 9-Jun-2002 10:55:33 AM by Ashton |
| Hey all!!!
Well...I know this is not going to be what many of you were expecting, but believe me, Max is not through with Liz yet. Hope you enjoy! As always would LOVE to hear what you think!!!!! Thanks for all the amazing feedback!
BehrHugs, Ashton p.s. VERY HAPPY B-DAY to my good friend Angie!!! You're the best, dearie!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ chapter 5 ~ The warmth of his body engulfed her. His intoxicating presence shifted in the air around her. His scent lingered in her lungs as she breathed him in. Lightly putting his hands on her shoulders, Max stepped up behind Liz, his voice reverently soft in her ear. “What do you think?” “It’s…amazing.” Eyes bright with wonder, Liz breathed in awe. Her voice was hushed as if she were afraid any normal speech would break the magical spell that washed over her the moment she stepped foot inside the place. "Like a private paradise…" She could feel Max’s smile warm the air around her as he let his hands drift down her arms before he moved to stand beside her. His own gaze drifted over the tumbling waterfall beneath their feet. “I thought you’d like it here.” 'Here' was an exceptionally large indoor garden that very much resembled the Garden of Eden. Not an inch of wall space on either side could be seen for the forest of trees and vines crawling lazily upward. Where foliage didn't rule, an artists' brush had rendered the cedar walls as a backdrop for a peaceful sky hovering over jutting, snow-capped mountaintops. The ceiling was a glass dome that ushered each ray from the sun and every stormy cloud into the atmosphere of the garden while controlled climate created the perfect balance of a breezy, exotic ambiance. Modeled after ancient oriental landscapes, Max and Liz were standing on an arched bridge that stretched across water tumbling helplessly into a bubbling, steaming pool below. The waterfall's source was a serene pond surrounded by a wall of craggy rocks behind them. Blossoming bushes dotted the water's edge, peeking out from behind rocky niches that directed and contained the flow of the water. On either side of the steaming pool, trees of various kinds completed the idyllic scene with flowering branches of every color overhanging winding paths just waiting to be explored. Liz glanced over at Max as he folded his hands and leaned on the bridge to look out over the peaceful garden. “How do you know about this place?” “It belongs to a very good friend of mine. We came in the back way to his property so you didn’t get to see their house, but it's just as amazing. Filled with items from all over the world. He and his wife are a bit eccentric as well as being nature enthusiasts. They're always on some safari or nature trek in some off the wall, exotic location. Since he's stationed near LA because of his work, they wanted to build a place that reminded them of their shared love of nature." Pausing a moment, Max's eyes warmed with a smile. "I believe this is an exact replica of a little, tucked away place they found on a trip to Tibet." Liz's eyes drifted closed as she allowed the peaceful aura of the garden to soak into her skin. She breathed in the fragrant air around her and the radiant smile that drifted over her lips immediately caught Max's attention. "Simply amazing…" Adoration danced in Max's amber eyes causing them to glow as he watched her intently. His heart filled with so much love just watching her that he was afraid it would burst. That thought alone sent a wry smile over his lips. Here he was the 'playboy' of the year thinking and feeling in sappy, romantic cliches. He didn't care. It was how he felt. And he was no longer afraid to admit it. In that moment, watching Liz, the rest of the world melted away to nothing. The only thing he wanted…the only thing he needed…was her smile. Fresh and serene. Warm and genuine. This was the Liz Parker Max saw every time he looked into her stormy, pain-filled eyes. The Liz Parker she could become. A Liz Parker at peace. And she would become that Liz Parker. Even if it took every ounce of gentleness and patience and love that Max Evans had to give. "I agree." The whisper escaped him before he could pull it back. Her skin began to tingle at the intimate tone of his words and Liz's eyes drifted open to meet that intense, penetrating gaze of his. Blush instantly painted her cheeks and Liz's gaze shifted self-consciously away from Max's face. Clearing her throat and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Liz attempted to shift his focus back to their surroundings, because it was painfully obvious he hadn't been talking about the waterfall with his comment. She gestured to the room around her as she took a few exploring steps away from Max to look over the railing behind them. "So, uh…what's the deal? Your friend just let any bum wander in here off the street?" Max chuckled more at the adorable way she'd eased away from dangerous waters then by her question. "No. Though if the bums knew about this place, there'd be nothing to keep them out." Liz turned and raised an inquiring eyebrow in Max's direction. Turning his back to the waterfall, Max casually leaned against the rail before explaining. "It's never locked. There's only a small group of us who know about this place so he doesn't feel the need. In fact, he actually keeps it open at all times for those of us who do know about it and feel the need to come here for…” Max shrugged at his own loss of words. “…well, whatever we might need at the time.” “Like what?” “Like peace. Renewal. Direction. Just to get away from it all.” Max's gaze lowered uncomfortably as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his voice softening reflectively. “I spent a lot of time here once when I was going through an exceptionally rough time.” Tilting her head to the side, Liz attempted to read his expression. Trying to determine if the pain in his eyes at that moment matched the pain she'd seen in the past when he'd been thinking of McKenna. It didn't. And Liz Parker's curiosity grew. There was so much about the man standing before her that she didn't know. That he had once loved deeply and lost was a fact. Who she was and what happened, however, still remained an enigmatic puzzle of questions with no answers. Except that she was still alive. And Max had no idea. Which caused a knot of dread to form in her stomach. And sharply heightened her inquisitiveness. Because there was so much more to Max then just loving and losing McKenna. An entire past was cloaked in mystery. Joys and pains that melded together to make him the man he was. The little things of every day that were as natural as breathing to him because they were uniquely Max. He was a bundle of contradictions. Passionate and intensely greedy one moment. Gentle and infinitely patient the next. Seductive charm rippled just below the surface of arrogant aloofness. With one flip of a coin, he was down to earth. A devilish tease, who was easy to be around. A confidant one felt they could trust with all their secrets, but walking so dangerously close to the edge of recklessness that trust was impossible. Laughter held a waltz with pain in his eyes. Steely determination tempered by understanding coupled to haunt his lips with wry smiles that could turn to instant warmth. Confident and intelligent, Max gave the impression he'd never once faced a foe he hadn't defeated. And yet, a defeat of some kind had brought him here in the past. To this special place. A place of peace and renewal and hope. A secret place he was sharing with Liz. That monumental realization hit Liz and she fought back the instant, intense desire to cross the distance between them and take him in her arms. To feel his hands caressing her face, his lips brushing against hers. To feel home again. She cleared away the lump in her throat, her question a bare whisper. "Did it help?” Gaze drifting back to her face, there was a moment of silence in which Max seemed to be trying to decide something. When he reached out his hand to her, it appeared he had. “Come here. I want to show you something.” Liz hesitantly slipped her hand in his. An instant spark of electricity zipped through Liz's fingers and she drew in a sharp breath. Max's gaze snapped up to meet hers, equally affected by the sudden irrepressible warmth spreading through him. An almost shy, awed smile lit his eyes and Liz found herself responding with a smile of equal warmth as her eyes lowered when his fingers gently closed over hers. One light squeeze brought her gaze upward to see him silently incline his head toward the end of the bridge with an inquiringly raised eyebrow. She bit her lower lip nervously and nodded her consent. Max led her over the bridge to the other side. Instead of taking the flowery path to the left, Max guided her toward the right up a series of wooden steps twisting and turning till they rounded a bend that put them on top of the rocky wall, in view of the entire garden. Immediately before them was a pagoda shaped building Liz had failed to see before. Perhaps because of the two twisted trees standing guard in front of it as if shielding it from the unworthy. Glancing up at Max, Liz's heart stopped mid-beat at the expression on his face. Eyes fixed on the hut, a peaceful smile played on his lips and his whole demeanor reflected that of a man remembering good times…some of the best of his life. A man in love with what he was seeing. Stunningly handsome, with that expression Max was downright…breathtaking. Sexy. Delectable. And so many more words crowding together in Liz's mind she simply couldn't separate them. Feeling her eyes on him, Max grinned when he glanced down at her, his eyes narrowing quizzically. "What?" Liz shook her head, a bit embarrassed at having been caught staring. "Nothing. I just…" Liz bit back the words 'find you so damn sexy right now I'd do anything for you. To you. All you'd have to do is crook a finger in the direction of a bed and I'd be there before you could blink...' No. Those would not be the appropriate words at this particular time. Because Max Evans just might take her up on it. Quickly shifting her gaze back to the bungalow Liz frantically searched for another topic, less dangerous. Noticing two statues of Buddha on either side of the entrance, she asked a question that was clearly an attempt to wipe away images of Max, beds and hot steamy kisses from her mind. Because it clearly wasn't based on coherent logic. "So. Are you a Buddhist monk?" That prompted a deep chuckle as Max's eyes began to dance with laughter. Shaking his head Max's grin deepened. "Uh…no." Not realizing what exactly she'd said, Liz's brows furrowed. "What's so funny?" "Well, for starters…my personality is to aggressive to be a Buddhist. Then there's my business tactics. I don't really follow the karma-do-unto-others rule. And uh…as to the monk part…" Max sent her a playful wink. "…I think you know better." Liz felt her heart skip a beat when she realized exactly what she'd asked but quickly tried to cover by rolling her eyes. "Ah. Right. Yeah…I uh…I see what you mean." Shaking his head with another chuckle, Max took a step forward and pulled on Liz's hand. "Come on. What I want to show you is inside." Following behind him, Liz paused as Max slid the screened doors open and stepped to the side allowing her entrance. Liz stepped inside and was immediately immersed in the soft glow of candles flickering off of thin opaque walls of white. Her senses were instantly filled with the exotic scent of jasmine and Liz closed her eyes letting a stimulating calm wash over her. She heard Max step into the small entrance, leaving the door open and Liz stiffened slightly as the closeness of the space immediately set in. Touching her arm, Max's voice was hushed and heated. "Uh…one thing before we go any further…" Glancing over at him, Liz watched as he easily slipped his shoes off and kicked them to the side, his focus firmly fixed on her face. She quickly got the hint and looked down at her shoes. Damn. She'd worn the black heels with the straps. Quickly glancing around for a place to sit so she could also remove her shoes, her dilemma grew. There were no seats. Her eyes raised to catch a sly smirk gracing Max's lips as he took the opportunity to make a suggestion. "Why don't I help you with those?" "Oh, I don’t think…" Before Liz could say another word, Max was kneeling in front of her, his hot hands scorching her skin. Her reaction was instantaneous. "Ok…." A dreamy, helpless sigh escaped her as her eyes drifted closed and her bunched hands rested on his shoulders for support. At the sensual feel of his fingers brushing lightly against her ankle as he unbuckled her strap, Liz felt the temperature of the enclosure spike intolerably and it once again struck her how powerful her reaction was to even his slightest touch. If he could make her blood simmer and electricity shoot through her with simple act of removing her shoe… Making love to him would certainly kill me. It was a fleeting thought that at once sent images of intimacy running through her mind. Tangled bodies. Steamy kisses. Long, passionate nights of indescribable pleasure… Lingering much longer than necessary, Max bent his head to focus on his task and Liz swallowed hard at the warm breath blowing against her skin. Although, the thought did race through Liz's mind that unbuckling her shoes may not have been the exact task he **was** focusing on. Especially since his fingers managed to glide upward, caressing with infinite tenderness. Brushing the back of Liz's knees, Max was rewarded with the added pressure of her hands on his shoulders when her knees visibly wobbled. Traveling back down lightly massaging, Max's fingers sparked with magic. After a tantalizing moment of such teasing, he moved on. Prompting the lifting of her foot with slight pressure on the back of her calf, Max slipped the first shoe off then allowed one hand to drift over the top lingeringly before setting her foot firmly, but gently on the floor. Liz bit back a whimper of protest. Repeating the other process on the other foot, Max grinned to himself. It was so very easy to make her putty in his hands. And he loved every second of it. The feel of her silky smooth skin underneath his talented fingers sent sparks of desire straight to his center. He felt the air in his lungs instantly heated and his chest constricted with an intense ache to feel so much more of her. Her breathless sighs above him filled his head with images that were dangerous in such a close space. If just the simple act of removing her shoe could make him feel this way… Making love to her will certainly kill me. Max licked his lips as images of passion flew threw his mind. Her gleaming body beneath him, moving in perfect rhythm. Long, intense kisses that pulled him into the center of extreme ecstasy. Her shapely legs tangled with his as indescribable pleasure exploded between them… Exhaling a shaky breath, Max willed himself to set his ultimate trap without falling into it himself. Hooking his finger through the straps of her shoes, he swallowed hard and looked up, eyes locking with hers. Both pair of dark eyes were half-dazed and half-bright with desire. Rising with aching slowness, Max's fingers sensually traveled the lines of her outer thighs, over the curve of her hips to rest lightly on her waist. Eyes never leaving hers, his body was only a breath away from Liz's when he finally stood to his full height. Liz's gaze dropped to his lips and she unconsciously licked her lips. The air between them became thick with electric heat. Max's chest expanded, desperately trying to pull in air that wouldn't burn his insides. He failed miserably. That didn't stop him for waiting for his moment. That one perfect moment when he'd dangle in front of Liz's eyes the molasses and oats that would tempt his untamable horse into willing submission only to leave her panting and aching for just one taste of the delicious treat. If he was truly being cruel, it was to himself. He'd already had to apply extreme restraint at least a million times that day alone. When all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and kiss her till those intimate visions became a reality, Max controlled himself. When her intoxicating scent made his head spin with desire, he fought it back. When his insides turned to lava every time her tongue sneaked out to wet her parched lips, Max began reciting the times tables in his head just to stop himself from grabbing her and fulfilling their obviously mutual desires. There was so much more at stake than a satisfying physical coupling. Their hearts were on the line. Their futures. Their ultimate happiness. Max could afford the time to do things right. That didn't mean he didn't have a strategy. In fact, just about everything up to that point had been carefully planned and brilliantly executed. The verbal sparring. The suggestive touches. The seductive taunting. Of course, he'd had his moments of lost control. Like in the car with that kiss. He certainly wasn't beating himself up over that particular lack of restraint. Not when it had been so intensely perfect. And especially since it seemed to have worked to his advantage. Liz had certainly been more bendable since then. Soon, it would be Liz Parker seeking Max Evans out and not the other way around… There it was. His moment. Liz's impatience was growing. The craving inside of her was beginning to race out of control. She was beginning to take the initiatives. Her hands drifted from his shoulders to the lapels of his suit jacket, curling into the material. There was another unconscious lick of her lips and her intense gaze, never straying once from his lips, suddenly snapped up to meet his with a hint of devilish desire. Her lower body made a brushing contact with his and a small smile played on her lips. She started to lean in… It was as if a coin had been flipped. Max instantly changed from enchanting seducer to cordial host. Thrusting a pair of heeled shoes between them, Max effectively ended Liz's quest for a kiss that had the potential for so much more. Flashing her a polite smile, his light airy tone was in complete contrast to the heavy air around them. "If I'm not mistaken, these very impractical lovelies are yours." Liz pulled back, her eyes wide with surprise as she stared at the shoes. She felt her hand drift up to take them and only realized once her fingers closed around the straps that Max had literally guided her hand to take possession of her own shoes. "Now, we can proceed…" As if unaffected by the overwhelmingly sultry atmosphere of the room or the obviously suggestive tone of Liz's actions, Max brushed past Liz heading toward the corner of the entrance. Glancing back over his shoulder he waved to her. "Come here. You've got to do this." Clenching her fists in frustration, Liz pushed out an irritated breath. She struggled to bring her racing heart under control as one thought raced through her. He was seriously going to be the death of her. As to whether the cause would be the actual act of making love or all of his teasing leading up to that final act, was still in doubt. But he was, in fact, going to be the cause… Seeing his dancing eyes still focused, waiting for her, Liz squared her shoulders, jutted out her chin in an attempt at defiance and hesitantly stepped to where he was standing. Looking down at the open book lying on an ornately engraved pedestal, her brows furrowed. "What's this?" "A register. Everyone who comes here signs in. It's just a thing we do…you know, kinda keeps us in touch in a way. Sometimes we put personal messages to each other. That kind of thing." With a generous smile, Max pushed back the thrill of victory at his latest stunt and handed her the ivory pen that had been lying by the book. "I'll give you the honors of signing first." Liz stared at the pen then at the book before her gaze slipped upward to meet Max's. "I…I don't think…" "Right." Immediately sensing Liz's hesitancy and the reason for it, Max nodded once in understanding. His gaze lowered to the book thoughtfully and Liz instantly felt as if she'd offended him in some way. As if she'd hurt him. Much like she did when she left him. Guilt rushed over Liz and the very idea of Max Evans opening up to her or accepting any of her advances flew out the window. Why should he when the last time he was totally open with her, she crushed his tender heart? Placing a gentle hand on his arm, Liz immediately opened her mouth to explain. "Max, I just…" "You don't know what name to sign." Max finished for her softly as his gaze met hers. Liz swallowed hard and she felt a prickling behind her eyes. That he read her thoughts like a page from a book startled her. But it wasn't that in and of itself that caused her breath to catch in the middle of her chest. It was that kind, accepting light in his eyes. She bit down on her lip to keep the tears in check when Max reached out to run a gentle finger down her face. Compassion and understanding echoed in every word. "It's ok. I didn't know who I was when I first came here either." Turning to the book, he signed his name with a flourish. Laying the pen down he turned back to her with an encouraging wink. "You'll figure it out." Reaching for her hand, Max backed up and started pulling her toward the back of the enclosed space. "Now. What I really wanted to show you…" Max slid the next set of doors open and once again let Liz enter first. What met her eyes not only surprised her but enchanted her as well. The bright, spacious room was a two-room studio with sections partitioned off with oriental screens. The back wall was made of glass and included french doors that let out onto a balcony overlooking the ocean. To her right there was a partition that didn't allow Liz to see on the other side. To her left an easy sitting area with a table set for one. Another screen separated the eating area from another section she couldn't view while there was a door off to the right toward the back of the studio that must lead to another room. Stepping into the open space, Liz shook her head in awe. "Max, this is just…" A man's accented voice interrupted her thought from somewhere to her right. "Ah, Max. You finally made it." Stepping up next to Liz, Max smiled broadly as he extended his hand. "Pierre. So good to see you again." Turning to Liz after shaking the elderly man's hand, Max began introductions. "This is Pierre. He's your chef today. Absolutely the best food I've ever had. You're going to love whatever he's prepared." Pierre beamed appropriately while trying to dismiss Max's praise. Flashing black eyes danced with laughter as he leaned forward and loudly whispered to Liz behind his hand. "Do not listen to him. I paid him for every word." Liz began to feel more at ease and chuckled as Pierre rocked back on his heels and addressed Max with furrowed bushy black brows. "Where are your manners, boy? Aren't you going to introduce the beautiful lady to me?" Max sent Liz a sly glance. "Of course, Pierre. This is…" He raised a questioning eyebrow and Liz instantly supplied her name. "Kendall. Kendall Blake." Liz caught the gentle smile on Max's lips out of the corner of her eye and a sudden warmth flooded through her. What he'd said outside had been true. Everything in her revolted at the very idea of signing any name but her real one to a register of Max's friends in a place that was so obviously important to him. Truth and honor and loyalty ruled this place. She could feel it in the air. She owed it to Max to be as close to the real Liz Parker as she could be. As it was equally obvious to her that she couldn't use her real name, even though the desire had never been as strong before, Liz could at least use the name here that Max knew her best by. The name of the woman he fell for instead of the stranger she was trying to be. Feeling his smile at her choice…well, it pleased her that it had pleased him. Liz held her hand out which was instantly engulfed in Pierre's meaty paw and brought to his lips for a gallant kiss and a firm shake. "So very nice to meet you, Mademoiselle." Releasing her hand, Pierre's gaze snapped disapprovingly to Max. He clucked the roof of his mouth and shook his head with a frown. "You did not let me know exactly when to expect you. It is because of you that lunch is not quite ready." Max shrugged with a grin. "No problem, Pierre. I want to show Kendall around anyway. Just let her know when it's ready." Pierre nodded and turned his attention back to Liz with a wide, warm smile. "Go. Enjoy the view. Enjoy the peace. It should not be much longer…" Placing a leading hand on the small of Liz's back, Max maneuvered her toward the partition to the left beyond the opaque screen. Liz immediately stopped short at the wall of books that greeted her. "Wow. I would have never guessed from the outside that inside it's so spacious." "Isn't it great? I mean, everything is pretty simple, but it has everything you need to stay a night or two." Pointing toward the door at the right, Max confirmed Liz's suspicions. "There's a bedroom in there." Nodding toward the direction they'd just come from he continued. "Of course, you know there's a kitchen. Small but efficient and always stocked." Pointing to the rattan couch with simple, black plush cushions. "Here we have a very comfy divan and over here…" Max stated as he stepped up to the center book case and motioned her over. "…is an array of literature that will blow your mind." Liz ran her hands gingerly over some of the backs of the books. "Austen. Shakespeare. Poe. Milton. Rand. Doystevsky. This collection is amazing." "Yeah. Not a Harlequin in sight." Max glanced at her teasingly. "Guess you'll have to do without all the steamy, sensual fantasies if you come back." Playing along and at the same time desperately needing some kind of affirmation that she was still indeed desirable to him after that stunt with the shoes, Liz allowed a look of disappointment to claim her expression before brightening with an idea. "Hey, I know. Couldn't I just bring my own Harlequin hottie and act out all those steamy, sensual fantasies instead?" A wicked spark flashed in Max's eyes and Liz felt her breath instantly turn to steam in her lung at the look of pure desire that he was giving her. He leaned in, his cheek lightly brushing hers as he whispered in her ear. "Only if I'm the Harlequin hottie that comes with you." Liz suddenly felt dizzy and her eyes drifted closed as Max's scorching words sent a shiver down her spine. Breathless, she started to lean into him when Max abruptly pulled back and turned to the books in front of them as if they were the most interesting things in the world. As if he'd not just whispered an intimate suggestion in her ear. As if he weren't driving her crazy with desire. Waving a hand in the air, Max's voice was surprisingly steady. And Liz felt the familiar fire of frustration building deep inside. How he could be so damn in control when her insides were literally on fire… "Quite a few of those are first editions, by the way." Max's quiet explanation pulled her back to the subject they'd been discussing and she tried hard to focus as Max held up a finger and raised an eyebrow in Liz's direction. "But…here's the real treasure…" Pulling out a simple, leather bound book Max showed it to Liz. Struggling to focus on what Max was saying instead of the perfect lips the words were slipping through, she blinked and her nose crinkled in confusion. "What’s…what's this?” “It’s a journal of sorts." Max's voice lowered with reverence and Liz once more got the distinction he was getting ready to share another secret with her. She wasn't wrong. Frustration melted away as Max's quiet words began to whisper to her heart. "Anyone who comes here and wants to share their experiences, struggles, fears, words of wisdom or…really just anything…can do so in this book. It’s also kinda like the register out there. A history of the people who have found what they were looking for right in this room. This is our latest. There are least three or four before this one.” Max handed it to her, his gaze shifting to the contemplative expression on her face. “You can read it if you like. That’s partially what its here for. To pass on wisdom found through struggles.” Lightly running her hand over the treasured book, Liz’s voice was softly inquiring. “Do you have any entries in there?” Leaning forward, a teasing grin lit Max's eyes. "Guess you'll just have to read it to find out." Liz grinned in return and rolled her eyes. "Cute." Serious slipped over her expression as she looked into his eyes, the book held against her chest. "Thank you. For bringing me here. Sharing this with me. For showing me a little more of who you are." Max glanced away self-consciously with a shrug. "I just…I thought you might need a place like this. You know, when things aren't going as well as you want people to think. Or when you're tired of running but you're too afraid to stop." Meeting her gaze with meaning, Max continued with a softened voice. "You can always rest here." Liz glanced away uncomfortably and swallowed hard. Gauging her reaction, Max realized she was primed for the real reason he'd brought her here. Grabbing her hand in his he nodded toward the balcony. "Come on. Let's check out the view." Once they had stepped outside, Max let go of Liz's hand and once more leaned against the railing as his gaze drifted over the ocean waves moving in and out, creating ripple patterns on the white sand. He smiled to himself at the beauty spread out before him. He smiled knowingly…and waited. Liz stood next to him in silence. Gazing out over the same scene. Watching the same waves. Feeling the same breeze sweep her hair back from her face. Feeling so many things she simply couldn't name them all. One was coming through loud and clear: confusion. She simply couldn't understand how he could be so gentle and understanding with her. How he could tease and joke and not feel the pain her leaving had to have caused him. That was…if he loved her the way he said he did. That must be it. He must have realized, just like she thought he would, that what he felt for her was only a drop in the bucket to what he felt for…others. That thought alone spurred her to verbal action. "Max. About what happened in your office…" "Yeah. I've been thinking about that a lot the past two months." "I'm sure you have." Liz answered softly, her gaze fixed on her hands folded on the rail before her. "Which is why I don't understand...any of this. Why are you being so nice? Why aren't you yelling at me or throwing things or…or calling me every dirty name in the book? I deserve it, you know." "Is that how he would have responded?" Max answered her question with a soft question of his own. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her stiffen. He pushed the point, glancing over at her. "That monumental mistake you made. Is that what he would have told you? That you deserved it?" There was only the slightest nod of Liz's head. Not enough to confirm definitely, but enough to let him know she was listening. "I'm not him." "Max, I know…" Max cut her off, continuing with a voice full of emotion. "I would rather make you smile then throw something. I'd rather laugh with you then yell at you. And calling you dirty names is not only not my style, but I don't have it in me to think bad of you." He turned to lock eyes with her and shook his head slightly. "I just…don't." Liz turned away from him and closed her eyes, daring the tears behind them to fall. Her fingers dug into the railing and she unconsciously leaned into it for support. There was a moment of silence in which Liz was trying to control the wave of emotions rippling through her, trying to make sense of his words, trying to cope with the idea of not being punished. Max was allowing her the space to do just that. When she finally spoke, her voice was still a bit shaky. "What are you really doing here, Max? In LA, I mean?" A wry smile touched Max's lips as he shrugged. "You're here. Seemed like the natural place for me to be." "You know this has to stop, right?" It took everything in her to push those words out through tightening lips. He pulled in a deep breath of salty air and gazed back over the ocean, his expression unreadable. "I figured you'd say as much." "Then why?" Liz turned to him, confusion lacing her words. "Max, I left you. I mean…I totally disappeared on you. I had no intention of ever seeing you again. Bottom line, Max, I have no intention of us ever being together. Ever. Any normal person would have gotten that message by now." One corner of his lips curled upward. "Right. Two things wrong with that logic." Leaning on one arm, Max turned to Liz and held up a finger. "First, I'm not a normal person." He added a second finger. "Second. I was there. You remember…the day you said 'yes'. That was the most believable 'yes' I have ever heard, seen or felt in my entire life." Liz opened her mouth to protest. Max stopped her with a finger against her lips. Eyes meeting hers, Max continued. Logically. Rationally. Honestly. "Like I said, I've been thinking about that day for the past two months and I've come to some conclusions. The biggest one being that I handled everything absolutely wrong." "What?" Eyes clouding with confusion, Liz shook her head and pulled his hand from her face only to cling to it with unconscious desperation. "No. Max, you weren't the one that said yes then ran away." "No. But I was the one that asked you to marry me in the heat of passion when emotions were running high, knowing you specifically came to cut all ties. And when you said 'no', I pushed you until you said 'yes'." "That's not…you didn't…" Liz quickly tried to pull blame from Max's court back into hers. "I'm the one that said and did all those horrible…" Max pulled his hand from Liz's grasp and stuffed it into his pocket. His emotionally distant, rational tone continued. "Kendall, come on. How many times did you tell me no and I wouldn’t accept it?" Max gave her a pointed look before his gaze lowered along with his voice. "That's not the way a marriage acceptance should be. You should want to say yes." "But, Max…" The earnestness in her voice matched her eyes. Max wasn’t looking at her. "And I should accept it when…if…you say no." Pulling in a deep, steadying breath, Max's gaze finally raised to meet hers again. He was calm, in control, and so very discerning about it all. "So, this is what we're going to do. We're going to try this one more time. When we're both thinking clearly. When passion isn't controlling our every word. And if you can look in my eyes and convincingly tell me 'no', then that will be the end of it. I'll not ask you again." Liz crossed her arms in front of her, her jaw setting with stubborn determination as a flash of fear raced through her eyes. "This is ridiculous." "Why? What's the harm?" Max shrugged as a silent thrill coursed through him. He had to bite back a chuckle of amusement. She looked so much like Jaedan right then. Being obstinate. Being contrary to what she said she wanted. Being so very childlike in her response. "Because it's wrong." Liz blinked rapidly trying to push back tears quickly rising to the surface. "A proposal is supposed to be passionate, Max. And…and full of emotion. And that's exactly what you gave me. And…and now? What?" Agitatedly pushing her hair behind her ears, Liz's continued as glimpses of her real fears began to trickle out. "You're acting like it's another business deal that…that you can just…just…walk away from. That marrying me is no more important to than making another million bucks." Her bottom lip beginning tremble, Liz's eyes met his. "That's it, isn't it? I'm an old deal that fell through and you found another pot of gold somewhere with Bambi and Tawny and Tiki and now you're just wanting to what? Clear the slate so you can move on? Is that what this is really all about?" "It was Kiki." An amused smile flitted across Max's face at the level of venomous jealousy she had for a group of models who didn't exist. Or at least, they didn't for Max. Liz's eyes widened in irritated shock. "It was Kiki?!" Her face screwed up in disbelief as her hands landed on her hips in indignation when she mimicked him. Anger flared in her eyes. "That's all you have to say to me right now?" Throwing her hands up, she shook her head. "You're unbelievable." She turned with a flounce back to the railing and diverted her irritated attention anywhere but Max's face. Adoration danced in his eyes as Max let out a sigh and reached out to gently turn her back toward him. Cupping Liz's face in his hands, his warm smile of amused understanding caused her to look away uncomfortably. It was so clear to Max what was going on in Liz's heart. She didn't want him to ask because she knew she'd be forced to say no. It was so clearly written in her expression. In her body language. In the light of day, amidst conversation instead of heated kisses, she'd have no other choice but to say no. She'd have no excuse like she did before. Especially given all the so-called clues she'd alluded to earlier. So, it was either no or…she would have to truly follow her heart, say yes and actually go through with it. And **that**, Max Evans knew she wasn't ready to do. Tilting her chin till she was looking in his eyes, his penetrating gaze locked on her face. Roaming. Gauging. Admiring. "There is no Kiki or Tawny or Bambi. There's only you." In that moment he saw so much relief mixed with fear in her eyes it nearly broke his will. But he pushed forward with sincerity and understanding. Knowing the only way to really build something lasting with Liz Parker was to destroy what had come before and start again at square one. Or as close to square one as two people meant for each other could be. When he spoke, he couldn't contain the emotion no matter how hard he tried. "Marriage is not a business deal. It's the most important, sacred promise a person could ever make. That's why I think it is so important to do it right. What I'm suggesting will put to rest once and for all that question for us. If you really don't want to marry me, then just tell me. I'll accept it. You won't have to lie then run. If you do, then we'll move forward from there." Liz let out a shaky, tear filled breath and Max's fingers softly caressed her face. His smile was warm, though he knew the impending outcome. He cleared his throat, swallowed hard and took a deep breath as his eyes met hers. "Will you marry me?" Liz's eyes filmed with tears. "Max, please, I don't think…" Max stilled her protest with a thumb against her lips. "I've heard your reasons. You've heard mine. At this point, it just a simple yes or no answer. So, let's try it again." Another deep breath. "Will you marry me?" Liz bit her bottom lip as her gaze shifted to the ocean beyond Max's shoulder. "No." One side of his lips curled upward and Max gently, firmly cupped her chin till her gaze met his. "In my eyes." Liz blinked and cleared her throat. "No." Though she said the clipped word, a flicker of uncertainty raced through her ebony eyes and Max couldn't stop amusement from haunting his lips. "Convincingly." That smirk of his did the trick. Irritation instantly flared in her eyes. She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin in defiance. One raised, challenging eyebrow and the word rang out loud and clear. "NO." Tiling his head to the side, Max pursed his lips and shook his head slightly as his brows furrowed in mock confusion. "No?" Letting out an exasperated sigh, Liz placed her hands once more on her hips. "No." Max stuffed his hands in his pockets and shrugged casually. "Ok." "Ok?" Blinking at his sudden change of attitude, yet again, Liz's disbelief couldn't be hidden. A playful grin spread over his lips as he leaned forward slightly and emphasized each letter. "O.K." Her tone was that of a lost little girl not sure if what she was hearing was real. "Just like that." "Just like that." Max confirmed with a nod. He glanced in through the windows to see Pierre pacing and Max nodded his acknowledgement to which Pierre beamed and disappeared behind the partition once again. Turning back to Liz, Max gathered her hands in his and began pulling her toward the French doors. "Now, if you'll just go back into that room, lunch is ready. Pierre's cooking is superb and you have a wealth of literature at your fingertips so I'm sure you'll enjoy…" Quickly getting the picture, Liz shook her head and pulled back on his hands. An almost desperate fear raced through her eyes. A fear of being alone. A fear of never seeing him again. A fear of letting go of the best thing that had ever happened to her. "No, Max. Please don't leave…" Once more stilling Liz's protest with a gentle finger pressed against trembling lips, Max's voice lowered to a pleading whisper. "Don't make it any harder, ok? Just…enjoy lunch, and this place, on me. Stephanie knows you won’t be returning to the office this afternoon so stay as long as you like. There's a limo waiting to take you home whenever you're ready." A warm smile of love lit Max's amber eyes. "And now that you know about this place, you’re welcome here any time. Just let Pierre know if you need directions or the number to call ahead of time if you want to make sure you'll be alone. I think you'll find it’s the one place you can feel free enough to be yourself. Even if you don't know who that is at any given moment." Gently taking her face in his hands, Max leaned down and tenderly brushed his lips against hers, savoring each lasting moment. Liz sighed in protest when Max pulled back way too soon to breath against her lips. "Have a wonderful life, Beautiful." One final kiss. One final whisper. A sudden chill. Then an aching loneliness. Liz Parker didn't need to open her eyes to know… Max Evans was gone. Tbc… [ edited 1time(s), last at 9-Jun-2002 11:05:12 AM ] |
| posted on 11-Jun-2002 12:56:20 PM by Ashton |
| Hey all!
This is only the BEGINNING of the next chpt. So many of you were so stressed at how the last chpt ended I wanted to give you at least this to show you it's ok. ;) FYI...Max did bring Jaedan/Angel in for Liz to visit with...that will be in the continuation of this. Would love to hear what you think. Thanks for the support! And don't worry...Max and Liz are going to be together in the end... ;) BehrHugs, Ashton ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ chapter 6 ~ That evening for Max Evans was an endless series of phone calls. Until… There was a knock on the door. "Yes, I know that, Barbara." Max glanced up from his computer screen at the sound and eased himself out of the chair behind his desk. "I'm just saying…" Max moved from his make shift office area past the raised kitchen on his right past the large fire engine doors to the smaller entrance Max used as a front door. There was another knock. "No. I don't think it would be taking too big of a risk." Another impatient knock sounded just as he reached the door. "No. No, that's not what I said. Just…hang on a sec…" Throwing the door open, Max's eyes brightened in delight and a smile started to form on his lips as his voice softened. "Hey." Liz Parker nodded in return and brushed her way past him into his place without invitation or ceremony. Max whipped his head around to follow her movements and turned with an upraised eyebrow as polite sarcasm began to flow. "By all means, please…do come in." Casting her glance quickly around the spacious area she'd boldly sashayed her way into, Liz spun on her heels and faced Max with fire flashing in her eyes. "You had it all planned, didn't you? Right from the start. Every last detail." "Ah." Was Max's only response. Trying to bite back a smile of amusement, Max spoke back into his phone. His dark eyes sparkled with anticipation. He’d been waiting for this confrontation all evening. "Barbara, I have to go. Seems my own personal tornado just blew in and it looks like it's going to be a long, bumpy ride." His eyes began to twinkle at Barbara's response. "Alright. I'll tell her you said hi." Clicking off the phone, Max tossed it onto a nearby chair. He crossed his arms with an infuriating smirk and locked eyes with Liz. "Barbara said to tell you hi." Unfazed by his 'tornado' comment and the fact Barbara knew whom had just walked in Max's door without him telling her, Liz surprised Max by launching into a list of questions instead of her expected accusations. "Nice place. But…really, Max. A firehouse?" "Yeah, kinda cool, huh? Every boy's dream come true." Max nodded as he glanced around with pride. Pointing toward the rear of the spacious building, Max's eyes lit up with almost childish delight. "Comes complete with a sliding pole, fire alarm and everything. I'll give you a tour if you want." There was a slight pause as a seemingly new idea hit Max. "In fact…" A devilish smile haunted his lips and his eyes instantly turned to midnight as they swept over Liz from head to toe. His voice lowered seductively. "…if you're a really good girl, I might even let you handle the extra long hose upstairs." One sly, suggestive wink. "I hear it's quite an experience..." Liz felt simmering blood instantly flood into her cheeks and she stiffened perceptibly against the onslaught of sensations his combined suggestive words and intimate tone were sparking throughout her entire in her body. Folding her hands in front of her Liz's dark eyebrow raised as she focused instead on her mission. "You, uh...renting?" Max bit back a knowing smile. "No." "Staying with friends?" "Nope." "Here illegally?" Shaking his head, Max shrugged his negative answer. "Sorry." Seeing the arrogant smirk plastered on his face, Liz knew he was going to make her work for every piece of information. She let out an exasperated sigh. "Max, I think you know what I'm asking." "Yes, I do." "And?" "Oh, I was waiting for you to actually ask." Was Max's flippant response. Liz took a deep calming breath and exhaled slowly before meeting his gaze again. Her tone was terse with frustration. "Al-right. This…" She glanced around her indicating his choice of living space. "…is permanent for you, isn't it?" Max paused a moment, his lips pursing as if in thought. Then… "If the question is 'have I purchased this firehouse and renovated it as a place to stay while I'm here in LA', then the answer is yes." "Ah, yes. I see." Liz commented before pausing as if in putting more of an obvious puzzle together. "So, the proposal earlier. The little chat before hand. Making me say 'no' like ten million times and then you just…giving up. Walking away. Leaving me standing there all alone. Knowing the whole time that you were going to stay no matter what I said…" Max jumped in. "Ok. Let's clarify something here. I never said anything about staying or leaving LA based on your answer to my proposal." "Right. But the point still remains...you've not given up on us, have you?” She waved an impatient hand in the air. “All of that was just for dramatic effect, wasn't it?" "Uh…” Max paused and cast his gaze upward in thought. His eyes snapped back to hers when he made a curt nod of confirmation and a generous smirk. “…pretty much." "Hmm. Yeah. Just what I thought." Nodding, Liz appeared to be taking her time as she viewed her surroundings. She leisurely turned and headed past the spiral staircase toward the center of the room where a couch, two chairs and coffee table sat just waiting for guests to be entertained. Running her hand along the back of the contemporary styled black sofa, she continued. "See...I've been thinking a lot about today. What you've done…” Picking up a vivid solid pillow she fluffed it then tossed it back on the couch, patting it into just the right spot. Max advanced further into the room, watching her every move with growing curiosity and interest. A small smile played on his lips as every nuance of her expression was captured by his penetrating, observant gaze. “What you've said….” Running her finger along the frosted glass shade of a floor lamp stationed right behind the chair closest to Max, Liz’s expression reflected clearly that she was impressed with what she was seeing in Max’s choice of decor. Sleek, suave, contemporary with dashes of vivid color to grab one’s attention. Very expensive, elegant taste. But not outrageously so. A perfectly blended mixture of all his contrary personality traits. It was all very…Max. “How things played out...” Dropping her hand, she turned fully facing him. “And I have to admit…I am impressed with the level of finesse with which you got everything to work. Takes true talent to pull off what you did today." Max inclined his head indicating his acknowledgement of her compliment. Liz continued without missing a beat. "And I really should have seen it coming because there were clues all around. Like…first of all, I should have known something was up when we walked in and there was only one place set for lunch. Should have been my first clue, but I missed it somehow." She began a short, agitated pace in front of him as she held up her fingers as if counting. "Then…I should have known something was up when you so calmly advised me that there was a limo already at my disposal whenever I was ready to leave. All your comments to Pierre were about 'her' meal, not 'ours'. Again, my fault for not picking up on the fact you never planned to stay." "But what you did after that, Max…" Ending her pacing, Liz abruptly turned to him. Shaking her head, her lips tightened into a thin line and there was a slight tremor in her voice. "…with Jaedan. Angel." She squared her shoulders and raised her chin in seeming defiance. "Well, I just have one thing to say to you…" Angel had told Max to expect the unexpected. He should have listened. Because he certainly hadn't expected what Liz Parker did next. With the speed of a shooting arrow, Liz closed the distance separating them. When Liz's soft body collided with his, Max instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist. When her lips hit their target a millisecond later with unerring accuracy, his response was instantaneous. The kiss was immediately explosive. Hungry. Passionate. Max crushed Liz against him as she grabbed his face with a firm desperate grip. Helpless moans of pleasure echoed in the large spacious room as tongues began a duel of intimacy and warm pliable lips slid relentlessly against each other. Slipping her fingers across Max's skin through his hair, Liz pulled him into her and Max's fingers got helplessly tangled in long silky strands as he angled her head in response. It was only the desperate need for air that pulled them apart. Liz reluctantly released Max's lips to a groan of protest. Gulping in large amounts of air, Liz leaned her forehead against his chest and ran a hand lightly over his thundering heart. His heavy breathing was loud in her ear as he clung to her, unwilling to let her go. Pulling back after a moment, Liz's passion filled eyes met his briefly before dropping with a softening gaze to where her entire being had been focused only brief moments before. Running her fingers lightly over red, puffy lips she bit down on her own before whispering two breathless, emotion filled words. "Thank you." A smile instantly began to take hold of Max and Liz's gaze raised once more to meet his dazed, but twinkling eyes. Running his fingers through her hair, Max nuzzled his nose against hers teasingly. "Well, if that's the reward for uniting you with one sweet little princess, then tell me now. I'll bring a child a day for the rest of your life…" "She's my daughter, Max." Releasing a shaky breath, Liz Parker repeated herself as her eyes drifted closed. "Jaedan Elizabeth is my daughter…" tbc... |
| posted on 15-Jun-2002 11:03:07 PM by Ashton |
| Hey all!!!
Ok, here's the rest of chpt 6 including the already posted 'teaser' at the end. The parts with Jaedan/Liz will be in the next chpt. Anyway, I know this is really long, but at least it might fill in some of the gaps with what's going on with other characters, etc. Hope you enjoy! Would love to hear what you think! As always, thanks for the amazing support!!! Hugs, Ashton ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ chapter 6 ~ That afternoon and evening for Max Evans was an endless series of phone calls. They all began with one earlier in the day between two 'partners in crime'… "You tell him." The answering chuckled sounded very much like a disbelieving snort. "I'm not going to tell him." There was a pause, then a challenge. "You tell him." "Are you kidding? He's barely talking to me." Alex Whitman rolled his eyes. "Oh, right. And I'm his special confidant right now." "Hey, he's talking to you more than he's talking to me." "Look, Kyle. This is a tad ridiculous. We are both grown men. Trained in the art of espionage. Skilled in the art of killing when necessary. Defending not only ourselves but entire nations in a single, super power leap. There's no reason we should be afraid to…" "I'm not afraid." "No?" "No." "Then tell him." "I'm not telling him." Alex let out a groan of frustration. His fingers turned white around the phone. His voice was deathly low. "Kyle…it is just an itinerary." It was Kyle's turn to chuckle. "Oh, no my friend. It is so much more than that. It's all the questions that will follow telling Max about his dummy itinerary." "So answer them." "Answer them. Just like that." "Yep. Shouldn't be that hard. Just open your mouth and say…" "McKenna's still alive and after you're hide? And because of that we're making it look like you're the ultimate globe trotter in case she's trying to locate you?" Kyle erroneously finished for Alex. "No thank you. I'll leave that to someone else." "That someone else you're leaving it to had better not be me." Alex answered quickly. There was dead air on the phone line. Finally Kyle spoke. "What are we going to do?" "Tell him when the time is right." "And when will that be?" "I don't know, Kyle. You tell me. How much proof do we have that she betrayed us?" "Practically zilch." Kyle sighed into the phone. "She's really a pro, Alex. I mean…no matter how many times I try to catch her in a lie or trip her up on her story, she comes through with flying colors. Not a chink in her armor." "There's always a chink in the armor of the enemy, Kyle. You just have to look for it." "You think I haven't been?" "I'm sure you have. It's just…" "We need the proof in our hands when we tell Max." Kyle finished for Alex again, this time correctly. "I know." "He's not going to believe it unless we have something to show him." "I know." "Still…" "Maybe we should say something, right?" "You know how mad he is at us now for keeping him away from Liz?" "Yeah, but…" "It'll be a million times worse." "I know." There was a pause before Kyle came up with an idea. "Maybe we don't actually tell him. Maybe we can do a 'what if' scenario. See how he reacts." "That's not a half bad idea." Alex commented as his thoughts began to whirl. "But whoever presents it had better be subtle or else Max'll be breathing down our necks asking questions we're not prepared to answer." "Right." Kyle added with a note of finality. "Which is why I'm sure you'll do…just fine." "Kyle…" "Oops. Look at the time." "Kyle." "Dude, Cruella will be back soon so I'd better run..." "Kyle!" "I'll check in with Max about the itinerary. You get back to me on that McKenna convo you're going to have…" "Kyle, so help me if you hang up…" The line went dead. "…I'll kill you." Alex let out a loud groan and slammed the phone down in frustration. "Dammit!" Shaking his head, he couldn't help but chuckle at Kyle's smooth, hasty maneuver. At the same time, he couldn't keep the knot in his stomach from forming. Telling Max about McKenna was an issue he'd been stridently side-stepping since the moment he heard the truth. What he'd told Kyle had been true. Max wouldn't believe it unless he had convincing proof placed in his hands. Even then, Alex had no idea how he'd react. It was an unknown he was not eager to discover. Pushing himself away from his desk, Alex had the sudden urge to do the one thing that always cleared his mind when things were bothering him. Mind whirling with unsettling thoughts, he went for a long unexpected afternoon run in the park. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thirty minutes later… "Ok. So, you know our Irish friends…" "Kyle…" "I know you don't want to know." Max let out a sigh. "Then why are you telling me?" "Because you need to know." "Fine. Out with it." There was a warning note in his voice as he spoke into the phone. "But remember, Kyle, you are already on thin ice with me. I wouldn't push my luck if I were you…" Max could hear Kyle take a deep breath before beginning. "Alright. So, here's the deal. Things went smooth with our Irish pals and for the time being they are off our backs." "And I needed to know this because…" "Because I took the liberty of making up a dummy itinerary for you." Silence greeted Kyle's statement as Max quickly made a few keystrokes on his computer and pulled up the itinerary available to a limited number of staff. An itinerary that wouldn't be all that hard to get ahold of. His eyes grew wide. "What the hell am I doing in Paris right now?" "Uh…wining and dining a beautiful model?" Kyle ventured a lame joke. Max didn't laugh. "Kyle…" Sighing heavily, Kyle shrugged his shoulders. "Alright. So, the thing is, Max…we may have gotten them off our backs for now, but there is strong indication they aren't done yet. And when they're ready for their next move…" "You have got to be kidding me." The disgust in Max's voice couldn't be disguised. "When is this going to be over? I have some serious things I'm dealing with here, Kyle. The last thing I need to be worried about is some radical group screwing up my plans." "Which is why I made the dummy itinerary." Kyle explained. "Alex and I figured that if anyone is trying to track you for any reason, then we'd let them. They'll be hopping all over the globe while you're safe and secure in…" Knowing full well where Max was, Kyle paused then finished his statement with a question. "…Hawaii?" "Not telling you, bro." Max responded definitively as his gaze swept over the rest of his itinerary for the next two weeks. Not one single trip to California. Or even the West Coast for that matter. Which could be a problem for the rest of his plans for Angel and Jaedan. "Monte Carlo?" Max pulled out a piece of paper and began jotting down notes as he absently responded to Kyle. "Even if you guess I’m not giving it up." "Aw, come on, Max. Why not? I am your favorite brother." "You're my only brother. And I’m not telling you because like I said, you are seriously on thin ice with me." There was a slight pause as Max glanced back at the screen and clicked a few buttons to pull up a map of the ports along the West Coast. "Besides, I'm sure you can pretty much guess who I'm with and what my current project is. Knowing you, if I tell you where we are, you'll come and drag Liz out of her bed in the middle of the night to relocate her to parts unknown. Losing more precious time with her is not a risk I'm willing to take at this point." Kyle let out a dramatic sigh and chuckle. "Ahhh, poor misguided Max. Don't you know I wouldn't have to drag Liz anywhere? She'd coming willingly once I reminded her of that kiss she and I shared." Max's pencil stopped moving and his head snapped up. His voice tensed perceptibly. "Excuse me?" "Oh. Apparently she didn't tell you about our little uh…thing." His not so subtle hint delivered, Kyle sighed as if remembering. "She is one seriously hot chick. I mean, those lips of hers could melt an iceberg. If I hadn't stopped her, things could have quickly gotten way out of cont…" Almost certain that Kyle was attempting to goad him into a fit of envy, an irritated smile tightened Max's lips as he abruptly cut Kyle off. "Ok. Now you're just bull--" "She tastes like strawberries." Kyle stated simply, ending any and all allusions that Kyle was just making up a lie to goad his brother. Max's jaw tightened and his pencil unexpectedly snapped in two. Max closed his eyes as jealous rage made his blood boil. It wasn't the realization that Kyle had, in fact, kissed Liz that made the rage so intense. It was the thought of any man knowing what Liz's passion was like in that first moment of intimate contact. It was the thought of any man knowing how sweet and tangy she tasted. How utterly intoxicating. That any other man, except Max, had touched heaven while in her arms. It was…an unbearably sickening thought… When Max finally spoke, his voice was low and deathly serious. "I'm only going to say this once, Kyle, so listen up really good. Don't ever go down that road with Liz again. Don't hint at it. Don't act on it. Don't even think about it." "Why? Because she's yours?" The questions were almost taunts. They were strategically asked by a brother who knew so much more about what was going on than Max gave him credit for. "Because I love her." Max replied instantly. "And if that isn't enough to stop you, then think about this…there's no chance in hell you could make her happy." "But you can?" "Damn straight, I can." The belief flashing in his eyes instantly turned to determination that made its way through every timbre of his voice. "I can…and I will." "But I can't, because…what?" Years of nettling comparisons between the two brothers rose the surface of Kyle's mind and his tone was instantly bristling and defensive. "I’m not the perfect Evans boy right?" "This has nothing to do with which of us is better or more perfect, Kyle." Leaning forward in his chair, Max's eyes crackled with confidence and belief. "You simply can't because this is Liz. And you aren't me. Which puts you on the same level as every other man on the face of the planet…utterly incapable of giving her what it takes to be happy." "I see. So…what? You're the only one who knows what that is?" "I was born to know it." Max's emphatically confident statement shot Kyle down. It wasn't just Max's words. It was…his whole demeanor. An inner, unshakeable faith that breathed through every word. As if the veil of time had been split open for one brief moment and Max had been given a special glimpse into his future. Without one single doubt, he knew it included Liz Parker. Once again, Kyle was struck with the unsettling feeling that what his brother was experiencing with Liz was something…untouchable. Precious. Rare. Destined. It made Kyle want to protect Max and Liz even more. Kyle's tone softened and once again it became crystal clear just how important Max viewed his relationship with Liz Parker. "I…don't think I've ever heard you talk like this about anyone. Not even McKenna." "McKenna was different, Kyle." A weary sigh Max's statement as he slumped back in his chair. "That was easy. There wasn't as much at risk. It wasn't this deep. I didn't feel…" "Yeah?" Kyle prompted quietly, cautiously when Max's sentence trailed into silence. "It didn't feel this right." Max commented softly as he reached for a photo frame sitting on his desk. "I firmly believe there is no one in this world…past, present or future…who fits me the way Liz Parker does. She's everything about me that has always been missing, Kyle. Corny as it sounds…with Liz, I feel like I finally found the real me. And I’m not letting that go any time soon." "Not even if she wants you to?" "Liz doesn't know what she wants right now." Max commented quietly as his finger lightly ran over the glass that protected the faces of 'his girls', Liz and Jaedan. He let out a sigh. "Which is why I'm staying put and giving her the time to figure it out." "And you're convinced once she does it'll be you." "So convinced that I've already taken steps to ensure our future." "Steps. Like what?" "Oh, no." Max shook his head and returned the photo to its place of honor on his desk. One last lingering look, then Max turned his full attention back to Kyle. "If you think I'm going to give you more information than I already have, you are sadly mistaken. There is no way in hell I’m letting you screw this up for me, Kyle." Max moved to a new screen and pulled up his very short IM chat list. Quickly seeing that his mother was online, Max typed in a message and hit send. Speaking back into the phone, Max waited for his mother's response. "Which reminds me, the next time you see our dear mother, you need to drop to your knees and kiss her feet." "Oh?" Kyle's eyebrow raised. "And why would I want to do that?" Phone cradled between his ear and shoulder, Max shuffled through a few files on his desk and kept his eye on the icon that would let him know his mother's response had come through. "Because she saved you from a very painful death." "Max…am I supposed to know what this is about?" "Think really hard, big brother. I'm sure you can figure it out." The window flashed and Max clicked to read his mother's answer to his hastily typed question. Max began to grin and quickly typed in another message, hit send then closed down the program. Silence greeted Max in which he shook his head at Kyle muttering under his breath, trying out ideas of what Max could be referencing and discarding them comically. Finally, Kyle spoke. "Hmmm. Nope. Ran through all the pranks I've ever pulled or ever wanted to pull on you and I just don’t know what you're talking about. Unless you're talking about that time I locked you in that sorry attempt at a tree house with all those girls that one summer." "Are you kidding?" Focused once more on his conversation with Kyle, Max began to grin as the memory hit him. "That did wonders for my social life. If you'll remember, I was the one with all the girls swarming all over me the next school year. And as I recall, I overheard you saying you wish you'd locked yourself in their tree house." "Bite your tongue. I never said…" "Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I'm not still mad at you." "Oh. Right. What was that about again?" "You keeping me from the woman I love." Max's tone became lighter, teasing. Kyle breathed a sigh of relief. It was the first sign he and Max were on the mends. "You know the one I’m talking about right? Name is Liz. Brunette, beautiful, saved your sorry hide when she should have left you for dead…" "Ah, yes. My angel." Kyle let out an exaggerated, teasing sigh. "Watch the possessive pronoun there, Kyle." Max commented with a hint of laughter in his voice. "Max…" Kyle's tone turned suddenly serious. "I just want you to know…about the kiss, it really was just one time. It meant nothing because I only did it to prove a point and it certainly won't happen again…" "I know." Max's tone was casual. Confident. "Hey, now. Don't go thinking you're little 'don't even think about it' speech did it…" "Oh, I’m not." Max cut Kyle off with a grin. "See, I know Liz, and my guess is that you kissed her and she slapped you. Or kneed you in the balls. Or maybe she knocked you flat on your ass. Hell, it was probably a combination of all three. She's a total fireball when she's pissed." Kyle began to chuckle. "Man, you can say that again. I'm not sure I'd wish her on my worst enemy when she's on a roll like that. You are a truly brave soul to willingly enter the ring with that one." Max's voice softened perceptibly. "No, Kyle. I'm a lucky soul. And if takes the rest of my life to prove that to her, then that's what I'm going to do…" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ten minutes later…. "You and dad really don't have a problem with this?" Max queried uncertainly. "Are you kidding?" The excitement in Diane Evans' voice was unveiled. "Honey, we'd love to meet your sweet little Jaedan. I've been wanting to ever since you told us about her and I think it'd be the perfect time right now too. You know we have plenty of room and with Thanksgiving coming up we have a lot of different projects we could all work on together. It'd be so much fun!" Max began to chuckle. "I'm so glad you feel that way. With the way Kyle switched my public itinerary, well it would make it very difficult to get Angel and Jaedan back to Denver direct without raising a few eyebrows if any one is watching." Sudden worry edged Diane's tone. "Do you think there are people watching?" "No, I really don't." Max hastened to reassure his mother. "I've not had any indication at least. And believe me, I've put my own people on duty to cover them 24/7. So far, no activity…which is precisely what we want." He paused. "Still, I don't want to take any chances. It'll only be a few days." "I understand, Max. And they can stay as long as they need to." The smile returned instantly to Diane's voice. "Oh, you know what else I just thought of?" "What?" "We could do a hay ride. Do you think Jaedan would like that?" A wide grin spread over Max's face. "Yeah, that's definitely something Jaedan would like." "Oh…and we could let her ride the horses and dad could take her to town so she can…" Max's laughter filled the room. "Ok, mom. I got the picture. Jaedan and Angel are going to be two very busy campers." Sincere gratitude danced in his eyes and made its way into his voice. "Thanks for this, mom. I can't tell you what you're accepting them like this means to me." "You love them, Max." Diane offered softly. "As far as dad and I are concerned, they're part of the family…" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ An hour later…. "I swear to you, Max…" "Don't ok?" Max's clipped tone instantly stopped Alex's explanation. His jaw tightened with annoyance. "Alex, you are my oldest, most trusted friend. I stood in front of you, looked in your eyes and asked you to tell me if you knew where Liz was." "Max, there were extenuating…" "You lied." Max once again cut Alex off. The silence between them was deafening. Max swallowed back a string of angry words that were threatening to explode. "I get that you were protecting her secret. And I appreciate your loyalty to her more than I think you'll ever know…" "I didn't do it for her, Max. I did it for you." "Really." Instant sarcasm dripped through every syllable. "And how exactly do you figure that?" "I was keeping her safe. Something that you, my friend, specifically asked me to do." "Right. From Chris. From our enemies. Not from me. You know…the guy that loves her." Max got up from his couch and began to pace. Alex let out a sigh. "Look, Max, it got complicated really fast. She needed to disappear. We needed her to disappear. It seemed the best plan at the time." "And that's fine. At the time." Inquisitive hand gestures Alex couldn't see punctuated Max's questions. "But what about when I came to you? What held you back from telling me then?" "I was trying to do what she asked, Max. Trying to keep her trust." "And in turn, lose mine?" "Come on, Max. Don't be like that. I was your only link to her and the best thing for me to do was keep that connection for when it was time to tell you where she was. It was a no-win situation the two of you put me in. She didn't want you to find her…you were desperately trying to. What was I supposed to do?" "You tell me that you can't tell me. You tell me you know but you're sworn to secrecy. **That** I would have understood. But flat out lying when I specifically asked you? God, Alex, how am I supposed to know when to trust you now?" "Max…don't go there." For the first time in the conversation, it was Alex's voice that held a tense note of warning. "After the things we have lived through side by side…the danger and…just don't ever, ever go there." Max let out a sigh, ran his fingers through his hair and plopped heavily onto his couch. "That was a cheap shot. I'm sorry." Alex sounded equally contrite. "Yeah, well…I'm sorry I lied about not knowing where Liz was." Silence held the line once more till Max spoke. "If it had been anything but that, Alex. Missions, business…I don't care. But don't ever lie to me about Liz, Jaedan or Angel again. If you do, it will be the end of our friendship. Do you understand me?" "Yeah. I understand." Alex's voice was tight with regret. And his mind whirled with awe. Max truly had fallen hard. So hard that Liz and her family were already at the top of the priority chain. So much so that old loyalties were now on the backburner. Then, Max asked the fatal question. "So, is there anything else you've lied about or you're keeping from me?" Alex squeezed his eyes shut as McKenna's face flashed before his mind. A moment of indecision and Alex plunged ahead with a plan he'd formed while on his run. The straight out truth. For better or worse, it was time Max knew what was going on with McKenna. "Uh…yeah, actually, Max, there is something that's pretty uh…well, you really should know about it." "Is this a direct lie or just something I don't know?" "Something you don't know." "Does it have to do with Liz?" "No. Maybe. Perhaps…indirectly." "Does it have to do with a mission?" "Yes." "Does it pose immediate danger to Liz, Jaedan, Angel or myself?" "Uh…no." "Will it distract me from building a life with Liz?" "Uh…yeah. Yeah, I think this would definitely be a distraction." "Then I don't want to know." "But Max…" "I don't want to know, Alex." Max stated with determination. "Look, the only thing I want to focus on right now is getting Liz in my life. Nothing else. No distractions. No missions. No…" "What if its about McKenna?" Alex's question stopped Max's heart cold. The breath in his lungs instantly chilled. His grip on the phone tightened till his knuckles were white. Curiosity gripped him and held him silent for a moment. Until he remembered his father's words about the past. About drawing a line in the sand. About how everything before that didn't exist. How sometimes to have a future, you have to deny a past… "Max?" Taking a deep breath, Max Evans made a monumental decision. "I don't want to know." "But Max, this is really…" "I don't want to know, Alex." Max emphasized each word deliberately. "The past is the past. I have a future I'm looking forward to. One that's going to take a bit of work before I can actually call it my own. I don't want anything to jeopardize that. Anything." Max's voice softened pleadingly after a pause. "Look. I'm in a really good place right now, Alex. Hoping and dreaming. Everything is so positive. I…I just don't want to go back to that place in my mind that talking about her always takes me. So just…don't push this, ok?" A torn Alex hesitated. There was a pause where conflicting emotions ruled Alex, then he deferred to his friend's preference. Maybe Max was right. Maybe right now wasn't the time. Not when things between Max and Liz were so uncertain. Maybe to deal with the McKenna's ugly betrayal, he needed the beauty of Liz in his life. And that simply wouldn't happen if Max were prematurely told… He took a deep breath, and agreed. "Ok, Max. Look, I really am sorry. About lying to you. I made a judgement call. Obviously a bad one." "It's over now." Max answered quietly before attempting to shift the subject to a lighter topic. "So, uh…how's Beauty? Angel told me they gave her to you to watch till they got settled." "She uh…well, you'd probably be loving her right now." "Why's that? "Because every morning I have to check my shoes for doggie doo doo." Max bit back a smile. "Serves you right." "Uh-huh. And she pees on my socks." Max chuckled. "I knew I liked that dog from the second I laid eyes on her." "And she's chewed holes in my sexy underwear." "Oh? And how exactly did she get ahold of your Spidey Underoos?" "That's really…amusing, Max." Alex quipped. Max started to chuckle and Alex joined in, each of them glad to have their best friend back. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fourty five min later…. "So, where's my princess?" Angel swung her legs up onto the chaise lounge on the deck of Max's yacht. She let out a tired sigh into the phone and gazed up at the stars beginning to sparkle in the sky. "In bed." Max glanced at his watch. "Eight o'clock? You're kidding. She puts up a fight if you try to get her in bed before nine." "That's when she's not had an overly exhausting day. She's completely zonked out from all the traveling." Angel explained. "And after all the excitement of seeing Liz again, by the time we got back to the yacht, she was more than willing to let the rocking of the boat put her to sleep." "Yeah?" Max's smile deepened. "Well, tell her I'll talk to her tomorrow then and give her a kiss for me." Max paused a moment before launching into the subject that had ruled his thoughts since he'd left Liz at lunch. "So, uh…how did it go?" "Oh, Max…" Angel chuckled into the phone. "…it was amazing. I don't think Jaedan has ever been so excited in her entire life. That place your friend owns where we met up with Liz was spectacular. Jaedan had so much fun exploring. And Liz…" Max could imagine her shaking her head as a smile entered her voice. "…was beside herself with joy. I wish you had stayed to see that." "Nah." Max shook his head slightly. "A mother-daughter reunion like that…they needed time alone. All of you did. Just your family, with no outsiders looking on." "Max, you are anything but an outsider." "With you and Jaedan, no. Liz…well, that's still another issue." Sensing he needed to talk, Angel gave him an opening. "Well, let me tell you this…you made some major points with her this afternoon." "Yeah?" Max began to grin. "That's good because I'm going to need them after what I pulled before you guys showed up." Angel began to chuckle. "Yeah. I heard." "Oh, really? And uh…what did our fair Lady Liz have to say about lunch?" "Oh, Max…I don't think you really want to know…" "He's a complete lunatic." The statement was made just before Liz popped a grape in her mouth. Talking around the juicy morsel, she shook her head and pointed an emphatic finger at Angel. "Off his rocker. Certifiable. Without a question…insane." Another grape was devoured. "I mean…I have no idea what that man will do from one second to the next." Angel's quiet observation was accompanied by a laughing twinkle in her eyes. "Well, he seems to be consistent about one thing." "What's that?" "Driving you crazy." Liz practically snorted. "You can say **that** again. I swear if he teases me one more time with those amazing lips of his and doesn't deliver the goods…" Realizing what she'd admitted, Liz allowed the sentence to trail off when she saw Angel's curiously raised eyebrow. Blushing faintly, Liz cleared her throat and quickly shifted her gaze to the wall of books in front of her. "What I uh…what I meant was that he could destroy everything here for me." Angel bit back a laugh. "He's only been with you a day, Liz. Hardly enough time to inflict any permanent damage…" "No, no, no." Liz held her hand to stop Angel's statement. "You don't understand. Do you have any idea what he calls me?" At Angel's silent shrug, Liz sat back in her chair with an air of offense. "Rachel. Can you believe that?" Angel tried to bit back an amused smile as she gazed down into her coffee cup. "Honey, that is the name you're going by here. What did you expect him to call you?" "In private?!" Liz's voice rose in shocked indignation. "He and I are…were…" Liz bit back the word 'engaged'. "I…I mean we almost…" 'Made love' took a cut too as Liz clamped her mouth shut and shifted her gaze uncomfortably. Angel cleared her throat and Liz glanced up to see an inquiring, upraised eyebrow. Rolling her eyes, Liz leaned forward, her cheeks flushing with slight embarrassment. "Alright. So, here's the deal. Things…happened in his office in New York…" A mock gasp of surprise escaped Angel and she couldn't hold back the sarcasm. "You don't say…" Liz gave Angel an annoyed, pointed look. "Let me guess. You've already gotten the Max Evans version, right?" Angel chuckled and shook her head before taking a sip of coffee. "Actually, he's been as silent as the grave when it comes to what exactly happened between the two of you. He avoids the questions just as much as you do no matter how many times I give him openings to talk about it. All I can do is assume he is a true gentleman that takes the 'don't kiss and tell' rule very seriously." Angel paused and looked at Liz expectantly. When Liz said nothing she rolled her eyes and prompted the conversation. "But, if you'd like to clarify anything…" Ignoring Angel's prompt, Liz instantly switched back to berating Max along the same general topic. "Do you know what else he did? He went on and on and ON about all the beautiful models that have been throwing themselves at him the past two months." Angel laughed outright at that one. Liz turned to her with barely concealed irritation prompted by deep seeded jealousy. "What is so funny about that?" "Liz, the only beautiful girl that's been throwing herself at Max is your daughter. And only then after she's warned him with a loud 'Catch me, Max' right before she jumps off the jungle gym in the park." Picturing that, Liz began to chuckle. "Ok. Alright, so I guess deep down inside I knew he was pushing that one." "Definitely." Angel agreed. "Especially since you're pretty much the only woman on his mind. Max isn't the type to take up with someone when his heart belongs to someone else. I think it's time you accept that you're the only he's got in his sights and I have a feeling it's going to be that way for a very long time." Liz exhaled slowly. "I wouldn’t be so sure of that." "Liz. Really. If you're worried about the models…" "I'm not worried about the models." Liz answered quietly, her expression suddenly becoming troubled. "Well, you're obviously worried about someone…" Contemplating how much to reveal, Liz paused before answering slowly. "Do you remember me telling you about that woman from Max's past that he lost? The one I'm not quite sure he's ever let go of?" "Yeah. But from what I understood, she's not in the picture." "Yeah, well…" Liz cleared her throat and blew out a quick breath. "…it appears she might be more in the picture than what we thought." Angel's brows furrowed and she shook her head. "That doesn't make any sense. Max has never once mentioned her…" "Max doesn't know she's…." Liz paused trying to choose the right word that wouldn’t prompt more questions. "…available." "I see." Angel answered quietly, her contemplative gaze shifting to the wall of books. "Right." Liz responded automatically. "So, you see…it's a good thing he left me today…" "You don't mean that." Liz turned to face Angel. "Yes, I do." "Liz…" Angel's knowing gaze met her. "…when Jaedan and I came in, there were still tears in your eyes." Having no good response to that that Angel would actually buy, Liz remained silent. Leaning back in her chair, her gaze drifted to the balcony where Max had proposed, yet again, earlier. "I still can't believe he was with you for a whole month and you didn't let me know." "Liz, I told you. Jaedan needed him and there was no way I was going to stop him from being with us even if it meant keeping it a secret from you." Liz's gaze lowered to the small bowl of grapes in her lap. "He said she had a nightmare." Angel remained silent beside her. Liz glanced over. "How often?" "For a while, pretty much every night." Shrugging slightly, Angel's gaze met Liz's. "Until Max came. He changed everything for her." A motherly smile began on her lips and spread to her eyes. "I honestly don't know what it is about those two, but they connect in such a beautiful way. If she couldn't have you, Max is exactly what she needed." Liz's head snapped up when she heard a sudden whimpering sound coming from the direction of the bedroom where she'd laid Jaedan down for a short nap. Quickly jumping up from her seat, she headed directly into the bedroom. Jaedan was obviously still asleep, but it was disturbed. One in which she was muttering about Evil Wizards and her mommy. She'd begun to cry. Liz quickly, gently climbed onto the bed and lay down next to her daughter. Wrapping a comforting arm around her, Liz kissed the top of Jaedan's raven head as she began to whisper soft reassurances and caress her hair. In moments, Jaedan had snuggled into Liz's warmth with a smile of contentment and drifted back into a peaceful sleep. Liz's eyes filled with tears as her gaze met Angel's as she stood in the doorway. "I hate this…separation." Angel nodded and slipped into the room to take a seat in a nearby chair. She reached over and patted Jaedan's back gently before her eyes met Liz's again. "It'll be over soon." Liz nodded as she pulled back to look down into Jaedan's angelic face. With a tear-filled smile, she took one of Jaedan's hands in hers and lovingly caressed each tiny finger before kissing her hand. Her fingers gently caressed the lines of her daughter's sweet, innocent face. "I love her so much, Angel. I don't know what I would ever do if I lost her." "You won't." "I feel…I feel like I'm losing her already. Just by not being with her." "Oh, Liz. You may not be physically with her, but you are so much a part of her that there is not a day that goes by when she isn't talking about you or thinking about you…" A gentle smile touched Angel's lips. "Maybe that's what makes her and Max so connected. Because when it comes to you…he's the exact same way." "I can't believe he did all of this for us. Especially after what I did…" Gaze fixed on Jaedan's face, Liz ran her finger lightly over a dark eyebrow and down her sloping little nose. Jaedan's long, dark thick lashes feathering lightly over her creamy skin fluttered slightly then stilled as Liz's fingertip rounded her rosy cheek. "I'll bet you weren't surprised at all were you, sweetheart? I'll bet Max giving us a place to be together seems like the most natural thing in the world to you. Especially a place as spectacular as this." A soft smile drifted over her lips. "In fact, if I weren't such a realist, I could almost believe he plucked this place right out of that amazing imagination of yours and created all of it just for us." Liz's soft tones filled the room as she gently began to play with Jaedan's hair. "He told me I could find myself here. And then what does he do? He turns around and gives me the exact thing that makes me…me. My daughter. My friend. Everything except…" When Liz paused, Angel commented on her unspoken finish. "Letting Max into your life isn't as hard as you think, Liz. All you have to do is go to him. Just…open up a little. You know, thank him for what he did for you today. Maybe even tell him the truth…" Liz immediately shook her head. "No, I…I can't do that." "Why not, Liz? He's not as oblivious to things as you may think." Angel's inquiry caused Liz's gaze to meet hers. "A man as intelligent as Max has to be asking questions. You can give him the answers. And you know, he's really proven himself to be not only a good friend but trustworthy. And if you're worried about him leaving when the going gets tough, well, I can tell you the past month wasn’t a bed of roses with Jaedan and he stuck in there without one word of complaint. He can be trusted to stick around, Liz…" "It's not that, Angel. Max deserves to be loved with the same amount of devotion he's obviously capable of giving." Liz brushed her lips against Jaedan's forehead and snuggled into Jaedan as her eyes drifted closed. "And I…just can't be that for him. I can't…pull him into this life. The running and hiding and fear. Not when he has the chance for something normal with a woman he's never gotten over." "Liz, you don't know that's the case." "It's a pretty safe bet that it is." The hardness of Liz's tone told Angel that avenue of discussion was temporarily closed. "Look, I don’t want to talk about this anymore…" "Fine." Angel sighed and reached over to touch Liz's hand. "But at the very least, Liz Parker, you owe Max Evans a big thank you for all of this…" "Awww, come on, Angel. Just one hint." "Well…she did call you a lunatic." "Lunatic? That's the worst I got?" Max chuckled. "Huh. Here I was thinking it would be Son of Satan or Evil Incarnate…" "Oh didn't I mention? Those came later." Max laughed as he sifted through some papers on his desk. "Well, I'm glad everything went according to plan today. From what Paul tells me the yacht should reach San Fransico by morning. From there you'll take my jet to Alaska. You'll be there a couple of days then head to Seattle by helicopter. From there, back to Denver on a commercial flight under assumed names I'm setting up for you." Max paused as a smile made it to his voice. "My parents are really looking forward to meeting you and Jaedan." "It was very nice of them to let us stay a few days while we lay low." "Are you kidding?" Max grinned into the phone. "My mom's been planning this since the day I told her about Jaedan. Only having us guys to raise, mom has years of girlie things to try out on her. I actually don't know who to feel more sorry for…Mom or Jaedan." "I'm actually worried about you, Max." Angel commented suddenly. "Me? Why?" Max's brows furrowed and he suddenly wondered where the conversation was going. He hadn't needed to worry. "Because you did something incredibly wonderful for Liz today. Which means Liz…" Max rolled his eyes and finished for Angel with a chuckle. "…will be on the warpath." Sobering some, Max let out a sigh. "Ok. So, what do you think I should expect in retaliation?" "If I were you, Max…I'd expect the unexpected." "With Liz?" Max grinned into the phone as his eyes began to dance with anticipation. "Always…" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ An hour later…. Max sighed into the phone. "So what exactly is the problem, Barbara." He listened a moment. "Uh-huh. Right. Ok. So, get her on the phone." Cutting off a protest from the other end, Max shrugged. "I really don't care what time it is there. Get her on the phone." As he waited for Barbara to link him to his other party, Max walked into his kitchen and grabbed a cup from the cupboard and poured himself a cup of coffee. He'd just taken a sip when Barbara let him know she was connecting him. "This had better be good." "Em…" Max's disapproving start set the tone of the conversation. Emily immediately groaned. "…what's the problem? Barbara's telling me that you're reconsidering your role in this take over." Liz Parker’s sister, Emily, let out a sigh. "He's my father, Max." "He's a jackass, Em." Max responded with straightforward candor. "I mean, come on. How many times have you complained about how he treats you. Never giving you any credit though you certainly do all the work…" "He's still my father…" "And didn't you tell me once that you had a younger sister?" Max attempted to keep his voice level and devoid of emotion. Which was extremely difficult considering Jeff Parker's treatment of his youngest daughter was the driving force behind Max's current actions. "That he basically treated her like she was nothing." Emily let out a weary sigh. "Max, that is such ancient history. My sister is not even in the picture any more. She died several years ago." Max swallowed the bile that lie brought to his throat and attempted to continue the conversation without giving any emotions away. "So? A man that can do something like that to his own child…do you really think he won't do it to his stock holders and employees. Hell, you're living proof he does it to his employees. How long have you been with Parker Industries?" "Eleven years." "Eleven years." Max repeated before setting up his case. "And what has it gotten you except a ton of work and no real reward? In fact, where exactly are you on the corporate ladder?" "Executive Assistant of Public Relations. "Executive Assistant." Max repeated, his voice disapproving. "I’m offering to make you CEO, Emily." Emphasizing each letter, Max could feel his case becoming stronger with each passing word. "CEO. You'd be in charge of everything." Doubts still remained. "You'd still have controlling interest." "Yes, but I trust you, Emmy." Max hastened to reassure as he moved from his kitchen toward the center of the room where he plopped down into a comfy chair. "As long as its turning a profit, I don't think I would need to be that involved with the actual running of Parker Industries. In fact, I don't want to run it. I just want to own it." "Why, Max? Why daddy's company? What's the motivation here?" Shrugging casually, Max hoped that attitude would transfer to his voice. "Why else? The thrill of the take over." "Never kid a kidder, Max." A wise Emily Parker cautioned. "I get the feeling there's something more to this." "Well, there's not." Max paused realizing even he didn't believe what he'd just said. Hell, he knew there was something so much more to taking down Parker Industries, and Jeff Parker with it. There was justice for Jeff's treatment of Liz in the past. There was planning for the future by handing Jaedan the legacy she should have received through Liz. And…there was a bit of revenge thrown in. Max took a deep breath and attempted a slightly different approach. "Look, all I can say is…I'm going to take your father's company down, Em. Now, you can either work with me and win or work against me…and lose. I'm there with you on family loyalty so I'll understand if you choose the later and there will be no hard feelings on my part, but I really hope you choose to work with me on the winning side." There was a pause where Emily was clearly thinking. "Well, you do make it sound very tempting." "It doesn't sound tempting, Em. It IS tempting. And you know why it's tempting? Because its real." A grin made it's way into Max's voice when he heard Emily chuckle into the phone at his obvious attempt to sell her on the idea. "Look, just…think about it and get back to me ok?" "Ok. I'll let you know soon…" As soon as the call with Emily Parker ended, Max dialed Barbara back. "Hey. It's me. Thanks for the hook up…" Barbara's question cut him off before he got any further. "All of them, Max?" "I take it you got my email." Max quipped with a smirk. "Yeah. And are you sure about this? I mean…**all** of them?" "All of them." Max glanced over a list he'd made before Kyle's call. "I want the entire list of subsidiaries for Parker Industries. The names of their CEO's. Stock holders. Family histories on each of them. I want their strengths and weaknesses. I even want to know if someone's Johnny Jr. off at Harvard or Yale has a reoccurring drug problem. Or if a wife enjoys a bit of side action with the pool boys. Anything any of them try to hide, I want it uncovered. I want every bit of dirt. I want to know who we can hit first and who we can hit hardest." "How hard are we talking here?" "However hard we have to in order to bring Parker Industries crashing down around Jeff Parker's feet." The level of ruthlessness in Max's voice was thick with determination. There was a pause before Barbara made an accurate observation. "This one's personal for you, isn't it?" "Yes." "How personal?" "Very." There was a pause. Then Barbara began the lecture. "Max. How many times have I told you to keep business, business and personal far away from it?" "A lot." "Right. And when you listen to me, you usually get what you want. Right?" "Right." "Then why aren't you listening to me now?" Barbara asked in exasperation. "I mean…taking out a personal revenge in business is simply not the best policy. Emotions get involved. Risks get taken." There was a knock on the door. "Yes, I know that, Barbara." Max glanced up from his computer screen at the sound and eased himself out of the chair behind his desk. "I'm just saying…" Max moved from his make shift office area past the raised kitchen on his right past the large fire engine doors to the smaller entrance Max used as a front door. There was another knock. "Now tell me, Max. Tell me what you're getting ready to do isn't too much of a risk…" "No. I don't think it would be taking too big of a risk." Another impatient knock sounded just as he reached the door. "No. No, that's not what I said. Just…hang on a sec…" Throwing the door open, Max's eyes brightened in delight and a smile started to form on his lips as his voice softened. "Hey." Liz Parker nodded in return and brushed her way past him into his place without invitation or ceremony. Max whipped his head around to follow her movements and turned with an upraised eyebrow as polite sarcasm began to flow. "By all means, please…do come in." Casting her glance quickly around the spacious area she'd boldly sashayed her way into, Liz spun on her heels and faced Max with fire flashing in her eyes. "You had it all planned, didn't you? Right from the start. Every last detail." "Ah." Was Max's only response. Trying to bite back a smile of amusement, Max spoke back into his phone. His dark eyes sparkled with anticipation. He’d been waiting for this confrontation all evening. "Barbara, I have to go. Seems my own personal tornado just blew in and it looks like it's going to be a long, bumpy ride." His eyes began to twinkle at Barbara's response. "Alright. I'll tell her you said hi." Clicking off the phone, Max tossed it onto a nearby chair. He crossed his arms with an infuriating smirk and locked eyes with Liz. "Barbara said to tell you hi." Unfazed by his 'tornado' comment and the fact Barbara knew whom had just walked in Max's door without him telling her, Liz surprised Max by launching into a list of questions instead of her expected accusations. "Nice place. But…really, Max. A firehouse?" "Yeah, kinda cool, huh? Every boy's dream come true." Max nodded as he glanced around with pride. Pointing toward the rear of the spacious building, Max's eyes lit up with almost childish delight. "Comes complete with a sliding pole, fire alarm and everything. I'll give you a tour if you want." There was a slight pause as a seemingly new idea hit Max. "In fact…" A devilish smile haunted his lips and his eyes instantly turned to midnight as they swept over Liz from head to toe. His voice lowered seductively. "…if you're a really good girl, I might even let you handle the extra long hose upstairs." One sly, suggestive wink. "I hear it's quite an experience..." Liz felt simmering blood instantly flood into her cheeks and she stiffened perceptibly against the onslaught of sensations his combined suggestive words and intimate tone were sparking throughout her entire in her body. Folding her hands in front of her Liz's dark eyebrow raised as she focused instead on her mission. "You, uh...renting?" Max bit back a knowing smile. "No." "Staying with friends?" "Nope." "Here illegally?" Shaking his head, Max shrugged his negative answer. "Sorry." Seeing the arrogant smirk plastered on his face, Liz knew he was going to make her work for every piece of information. She let out an exasperated sigh. "Max, I think you know what I'm asking." "Yes, I do." "And?" "Oh, I was waiting for you to actually ask." Was Max's flippant response. Liz took a deep calming breath and exhaled slowly before meeting his gaze again. Her tone was terse with frustration. "Al-right. This…" She glanced around her indicating his choice of living space. "…is permanent for you, isn't it?" Max paused a moment, his lips pursing as if in thought. Then… "If the question is 'have I purchased this firehouse and renovated it as a place to stay while I'm here in LA', then the answer is yes." "Ah, yes. I see." Liz commented before pausing as if in putting more of an obvious puzzle together. "So, the proposal earlier. The little chat before hand. Making me say 'no' like ten million times and then you just…giving up. Walking away. Leaving me standing there all alone. Knowing the whole time that you were going to stay no matter what I said…" Max jumped in. "Ok. Let's clarify something here. I never said anything about staying or leaving LA based on your answer to my proposal." "Right. But the point still remains...you've not given up on us, have you?” She waved an impatient hand in the air. “All of that was just for dramatic effect, wasn't it?" "Uh…” Max paused and cast his gaze upward in thought. His eyes snapped back to hers when he made a curt nod of confirmation and a generous smirk. “…pretty much." "Hmm. Yeah. Just what I thought." Nodding, Liz appeared to be taking her time as she viewed her surroundings. She leisurely turned and headed past the spiral staircase toward the center of the room where a couch, two chairs and coffee table sat just waiting for guests to be entertained. Running her hand along the back of the contemporary styled black sofa, she continued. "See...I've been thinking a lot about today. What you've done…” Picking up a vivid solid pillow she fluffed it then tossed it back on the couch, patting it into just the right spot. Max advanced further into the room, watching her every move with growing curiosity and interest. A small smile played on his lips as every nuance of her expression was captured by his penetrating, observant gaze. “What you've said….” Running her finger along the frosted glass shade of a floor lamp stationed right behind the chair closest to Max, Liz’s expression reflected clearly that she was impressed with what she was seeing in Max’s choice of decor. Sleek, suave, contemporary with dashes of vivid color to grab one’s attention. Very expensive, elegant taste. But not outrageously so. A perfectly blended mixture of all his contrary personality traits. It was all very…Max. “How things played out...” Dropping her hand, she turned fully facing him. “And I have to admit…I am impressed with the level of finesse with which you got everything to work. Takes true talent to pull off what you did today." Max inclined his head indicating his acknowledgement of her compliment. Liz continued without missing a beat. "And I really should have seen it coming because there were clues all around. Like…first of all, I should have known something was up when we walked in and there was only one place set for lunch. Should have been my first clue, but I missed it somehow." She began a short, agitated pace in front of him as she held up her fingers as if counting. "Then…I should have known something was up when you so calmly advised me that there was a limo already at my disposal whenever I was ready to leave. All your comments to Pierre were about 'her' meal, not 'ours'. Again, my fault for not picking up on the fact you never planned to stay." "But what you did after that, Max…" Ending her pacing, Liz abruptly turned to him. Shaking her head, her lips tightened into a thin line and there was a slight tremor in her voice. "…with Jaedan. Angel." She squared her shoulders and raised her chin in seeming defiance. "Well, I just have one thing to say to you…" Angel had told Max to expect the unexpected. He should have listened. Because he certainly hadn't expected what Liz Parker did next. With the speed of a shooting arrow, Liz closed the distance separating them. When Liz's soft body collided with his, Max instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist. When her lips hit their target a millisecond later with unerring accuracy, his response was instantaneous. The kiss was immediately explosive. Hungry. Passionate. Max crushed Liz against him as she grabbed his face with a firm desperate grip. Helpless moans of pleasure echoed in the large spacious room as tongues began a duel of intimacy and warm pliable lips slid relentlessly against each other. Slipping her fingers across Max's skin through his hair, Liz pulled him into her and Max's fingers got helplessly tangled in long silky strands as he angled her head in response. It was only the desperate need for air that pulled them apart. Liz reluctantly released Max's lips to a groan of protest. Gulping in large amounts of air, Liz leaned her forehead against his chest and ran a hand lightly over his thundering heart. His heavy breathing was loud in her ear as he clung to her, unwilling to let her go. Pulling back after a moment, Liz's passion filled eyes met his briefly before dropping with a softening gaze to where her entire being had been focused only brief moments before. Running her fingers lightly over red, puffy lips she bit down on her own before whispering two breathless, emotion filled words. "Thank you." A smile instantly began to take hold of Max and Liz's gaze raised once more to meet his dazed, but twinkling eyes. Running his fingers through her hair, Max nuzzled his nose against hers teasingly. "Well, if that's the reward for uniting you with one sweet little princess, then tell me now. I'll bring a child a day for the rest of your life…" "She's my daughter, Max." Releasing a shaky breath, Liz Parker repeated herself as her eyes drifted closed. "Jaedan Elizabeth is my daughter…" |
| posted on 16-Jun-2002 11:33:23 PM by Ashton |
| Hey all!!!
Ok. So, I couldn't help myself. Had to get this next part out to you. Now, it's going to be TOTALLY corny on Liz's part toward the end, but for what I have planned, I think ya'll will like it. ;) Anyway...hope you enjoy! Would love to hear what you think as always!!! Hugs, Ashton ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ chapter 7 ~ Liz's confession tugged the smile from Max's face and he pulled back to look into her face with surprise. Not because of the truth he had known for months. But because she revealed it to him. So openly. So willingly. So…soon. It was obvious Liz Parker was struggling not to cry, trying not to break down, evidence of the powerful emotions simmering just under the surface of her carefully controlled facade. Ever gentle, Max's fingers glided over Liz's soft cheeks before curling under her jaw, easing her face upward and prompting her to look at him when he whispered a tender endearment. "Sweetheart, look at me." Blinking back sudden tears, Liz once more bit down on her lower lip when her gaze met his. "So, you're the beautiful Queen and Jaedan's your little princess, huh?" The smile on his face warmed the amber slivers in his eyes with flames of teasing adoration. "And you think I didn't already know that?" Liz's breath caught in her chest and a stubborn tear slipped down her face. "H--how did you…?" Max's smile deepened as his gaze roamed her face slowly before meeting hers with an answer. "Because every time I look in those big beautiful brown eyes of hers, I see you staring back at me. Granted, there's a lot less fear and whole lot more trust, but there's no doubt." Running a finger down the bridge of Liz's nose to emphasize his point, Max began to grin. "From the tip of her cute little nose right on through to that stubborn iron will of hers, every inch of that little girl is yours through and through." Brushing his lips against her forehead, Max's voice lowered to intense sincerity when he looked into her eyes again. "And I adore her even more because of it." Liz's gaze shifted from Max's eyes glowing with so emotion. "How…long?" "Since before you came to my office that day." "You…" Liz bit on her lip to keep back the tears. Blinking rapidly, she managed to get the question out. "You…knew when you…proposed?" "Yeah." Max answered softly as he pushed a stray piece of hair back behind Liz's ear. "Yeah, I knew." "And you…you asked…anyway? Knowing you'd be…a…a father and not…not just a husband?" Despite the seriousness of the moment, Max couldn't keep the twinkle of amusement out of his dancing eyes at the obvious answer to Liz's innocent question. His silence prompted her gaze to meet his in question. A smile tugged the corner of his lips upward as he shrugged almost shyly. "What better way to spend the rest of my life than with the two girls I adore most in the world?" Overcome with sudden emotion, Liz pushed herself out of Max's arms and spun around, bowing her head as her hands became two tight fists by her side, clenching and unclenching with repeated agitation. Sensing she needed time to compose herself, Max watched in silence as her shoulders slumped while she struggled not to break down. Sensing she'd only push him away if he tried to comfort her in any way, he kept his distance. That didn't mean his arms didn't ache to hold her. That his fingers didn't itch to wipe away any tears that stubbornly escaped her. That his lips didn't burn to brush against hers and silently prove to her just how much he meant his heartfelt confession. He was right to keep his distance. For Liz Parker was facing a struggle she had previously thought impossible. And that struggle all began when he left her earlier that day. It began when she started reading the journal he'd left her after lunch. It began when she heard her own voice speaking through the scattered words of another… My life is danger. It leaves no room for emotion. No room for stability. No room for growth. To grow, one has to be planted. Rooted to one particular place. One has to have a home. I have no home. I never shall. I'd have to stand still long enough to feel the warm sun against my skin. The breeze in my hair. The soft nurturing ground curl over my toes. Establishing a permanency I long for. But, it's a risk I cannot take. To be safe, I must be free. To be free, I must keep moving. To keep moving, I cannot feel. Cannot want. Cannot love… A knock on the door interrupted Liz's reading. Quickly shoving the journal onto the shelf, she attempted to swipe the tears filling her eyes but failed to complete the task before the door flew open and a little dark haired imp bounced through the door calling out her name. "Kendall! Kendall! Where 're ya?" "Jaedan!?" Rounding the oriental screen, Liz's expression registered amazing shock. "Oh my God! Sweetheart!" Jaedan was in Liz's arms in a heartbeat. Both mother and daughter laughing and chattering through giggles and tears. Angel stood silently by the door taking in the scene. Chronicling each second to retell Max later. It was only right since he'd made this moment possible. Tears glistening in her eyes, Liz looked to Angel and held out her hand. Angel quickly joined the reunion circle receiving a hug and kiss from both Liz and Jaedan. Jaedan's long ponytails bounced against her shoulders as she turned to Liz with an oh-so-serious expression. "Were ya s'priseded?" Liz nodded enthusiastically as a bright smile lit her eyes. She kissed Jaedan's smooth cheek before responding. "Oh, pumpkin, I've not been this surprised in…forever!" Jaedan began to clap as her eyes lit up with secret joy. "Yay! It workeded! It workded! Max said ya'd be s'priseded. But we had to be all…" Jaedan put her finger against her lips in animated explanation. "…shhhh for it ta workded." Turning bright eyes on Angel, Jaedan continued without skipping a beat. "I was good, wasn't I, grandnanny? Cuz I've been all shhh all dis time just like Max said!" Angel began to laugh. "Yes, sweetie, you did just what Max said. He'll be so proud of you." "Oh, my sweetie pie…" Liz knelt down and released Jaedan. "…let's take a good look at you." She swallowed back new tears of regret that prickled the back of her eyes. "You've gotten bigger…" "Uh-huh! We measureded me wiff a stick and everyfing and Grandnanny says I growded a whole inches anda ha'f, but…" She lowered her voice as if conveying a private secret. "…Max thinks I growded a whole two inches. We're gonna measure me 'gain when he comes back home just ta see who's right…Max or Grandnanny!" "When he comes back?" Liz's questioning gaze shifted from Jaedan to Angel, but Angel didn't get a chance to answer. "Uh-huh! I got it all markded on my cowendar!" "Your cowendar?" Liz inquired her brows knitting together as she struggled to figure out the word her daughter was trying to pronounce. Before she was able to get far in the thinking process, Jaedan produced the item from her backpack. "Here. See? I got it all markded down. Max and I maded it real special. See?" "I can see. It's a very special, pretty calendar." "No, Kendall. It's a cowendar!" Jaedan corrected stubbornly as her pony tails emphasized her point with a wicked bounce as she placed her hands on the hips of her jean overalls. "Oh. Well…excuse me." Liz chuckled as she wrapped her arm around Jaedan and pulled her forward for a hug. Unable to fight the smile on her face, Liz gazed down at the hand made calendar for the month of November. "Sweetie, what are the these?" Liz pointed to a separate cut out pieces that Jaedan had obviously colored. Several of the same covered the blocks for days throughout the month while a few blocks were covered with a less enchanting figure of a comical dragon. Jeadan pointed a tiny finger at one of the pretty princesses. "Dat's me when I's been good and when I's had a happy day." She moved her finger to one of the few dragons on the board. "Dat's me when I's not had a happy day. When I's been crwyin' or poutin' in my room." "Oh, I see." Liz tried to bite back a smile as her gaze swept across the calendar seeing a lot more princesses than dragons. One particular day caught her eye. "Honey, why does this day have two dragons?" Jaedan's lower lip shot out in a guilty pout as she turned regretful eyes on Liz. "Cuz I was extrwa bad." "You were?" Liz asked, trying not to chuckle at the look on Jaedan's face. "Well, what did you do?" Jaedan began twisting her body back and forth with nervous energy while she began her story. "I got mad at Max cuz he was leafing me and Grandnanny and I thought he was gonna get losted like you and I…I ran an hided under my bed where he couldn't finded me. He got weally scared cuz he didn't know where I got losted to. So, I got doubled drwagons cuz I scareded him so bad." "Oh…" Liz frowned down at the calendar and realized that day had only been two days ago. "I see. Sounds like Max is really important to you." "Uh-huh!" Jaedan readily agreed with bouncing hair and dancing feet. "He's my Mr. Prince Charming. And he's my friend. And we make sniffum and cacknaps together. And…and he prwomised to finded you for me cuz I was scarded that you got losted. And he did. See? And…and we get to go to the park and paint pictures together and…and he reads me bedtime stories and makes up fairy tales wiff me! And he makes all the scwary mo'sters go 'way in my night ga'lps!" "Wow." Liz's impressed but accusatory gaze met Angel's. "I…I had no idea he'd become so much a part of your life…" "Jaedan, tell Kendall what else happened that day." Angel prompted trying to head off any storm she might have seen brewing in Liz's eyes. Jaedan's eyes brightened and she clapped her hands in front of her. "OH! I 'member! Max took me ta see 'bout getting' anodder Booty, but we didn't see no pwretty puppies like Booty. So, Max's gonna talk to the Walla Walla Fairy and see if maybe Booty can come live wiff us again!" "Oh, honey, that would be wonderful! I know how much you wanted to take Beauty with you when you and Grandnanny left." "Uh-huh! And Max and I had a woooong talk." "You did?" "Uh-huh. He told me just cuz he was leafing Grandnanny and me doedn't mean he was gonna be gone forefer. Just like you're not gonna be gone forefer. He said we'd get ta see ya 'gain. And lookie! He gave me dis! Just like he said he would!" Jaedan held out her arm so Liz could see the tiny charm bracelet hanging from her wrist. Liz ran her fingers over the one charm currently dangling from her daughter's bracelet. Before Liz had a chance to ask any questions, Jaedan jumped in with an excited explanation. "Grandnanny just helped me put it on cuz I didn't hafe it 'fore taday! See? It's a flower…like in our secret garden. He prwomised to give me a charm for each prwomise he kepted. And he said he'd let me see a prwetty garden that would lead me to you! And it did! Cuz we just followed the path like Max said and…" Jaedan's face broke into a wide grin. "…here you are!" "Yeah, baby…" Liz pulled Jaedan into a tight hug. "…here I am. Right where Max said I'd be." She gave Jaedan a lingering kiss on her cheek before hugging her again. "I have missed you so much…" Her tear filled gazed to meet Angel's. A dark eyebrow raised as Liz mouthed the word 'Is this safe?' to Angel. Angel nodded with a smile and mouthed back the words 'Max made sure.' Before Liz got a chance to inquire about anything else from her silent friend, Jaedan wiggled out of Liz's embrace and grabbed her hand. Bouncing with excitement and energy she started pulling Liz toward the door. "Come on, Kendall! Max said we could go 'xplorin'!" "Keep this up, Max, you'll have this war won before Liz gets a foot on the battlefield." Angel whispered, simply shaking her head and grinning as two giggling Parker girls slipped through the door into a garden world made just for them… Unfortunately, Liz Parker hadn't yet lost the will to fight. A decision loomed before her. The truth. Revealing it. Keeping it hidden. It was a struggle more profound than anything Liz had ever faced in the past. Because either way, the potential for losing Max was certain. The only difference would be how long she got to keep him before he disappeared out of her life. My life is danger. It leaves no room for emotion. No room for stability. No room for growth. It's a risk I cannot take. To be safe, I must be free. To be free, I must keep moving. To keep moving, I cannot feel. Cannot want. Cannot love… The sooner she claimed that truth, the better. For both of them. Liz Parker had only taken a few acting classes in boarding school. Performing was like breathing for her. She was a natural. Born to rule the art. On stage, the character was real enough to touch. Liz Parker was just a ghost. If ever there was a time to pull out that old acting garb, now was the time. Donning her chosen character like putting on a cloak, Liz's shoulders squared. A new Liz Parker stood in her place as her head slowly raised. Her voice was steady when she began to speak. "Jaedan loves you and she needs you. I will not take that away from her." "But…" Max prompted quietly, not quite sure what to expect when her eyes finally met his again. He didn't have long to wait. Liz turned to face him. Determination edged eyes full of purpose. "But you and I…this thing we have going…it stops here. It stops now." Taking a deep breath, Liz's gaze never wavered. "I'm sure you have…a million questions right now so…" "Yes." Max nodded once, his eyes narrowing as he watched her carefully. "But none that need to be answered right this moment." It was as if any entirely different woman stood before him. A woman acting. Not feeling. Not thinking. Just…acting…a part. He could practically see the wheels in her head spinning furiously providing her with the next line in the play. His awe of her increased dramatically. As well as Max felt he could read Liz, she never quite ceased to surprise him. The outcome of this current performance was going to be…entertaining to say the very least. Max braced himself for…the unexpected. "Alright then. I'll say what I came to say." Folding her hands in front of her, Liz shrugged her shoulders slightly as an aura of confidence rippled over her. "It's painfully obvious that you just…aren't going to give up…" "And they say you aren't observant." Max quipped lightly with a smirk. Liz continued barely acknowledging his comment. "So, it seems to me that the only thing that will convince you to do just that is…to tell you the complete truth." A dark eyebrow raised in response and his lips twitched helplessly. "What a novel idea…Rachel." Tilting her head to the side, Liz batted her long lashes and threw him a careless smile. "You're not going to make this easy for me, are you?" Max mirrored her expression. "Should I?" "Well, I did thank you for this afternoon in a very…" Liz paused a moment as her gaze came to rest on Max's still red lips. A knowing smile slipped over her lips and her voice lowered suggestively. "….satisfying way." "Mmmm-hmmm." Max deliberately wet his lips as his heated gaze landed on her lips only a few short steps away. "You certainly did." Eyes snapping back up to meet hers, he shook his head slightly. "But that was payback. Not credit. If you want me to make this easy for you, I suggest we negotiate. Maybe start with another kiss, see where that takes us…" "And I suggest you take it up with Jaedan's father." Liz's chin raised mockingly. That one statement alone wiped the smirk off Max's face. Had he been drinking something, he would have choked. His face visibly paled and the breath in his lungs instantly froze. Never in his wildest dreams had he expected Liz to mention Chris, let alone… Wait. She was too calm to be talking about Chris. In fact, she was too composed to be dealing with this entire issue altogether. The anticipatory knot that had formed in Max's stomach instantly eased. She had her game face on. Not her bearing-my-soul-this-is-too-painful-to-talk-about face. In fact, she was being Max. The way he had been…earlier today. Max cleared his throat and waited with baited breath to see where she was taking this. "Jaedan's…father." "Yes." Liz, the consummate actress, answered calmly as she quirked an eyebrow in his direction. "You didn't think I had her all by myself did you?" "Of…of course not. It's just…" "Look, Max. I'm attracted to you." A faint blush accompanied her admission. "That has been made painfully obvious on several occasions. I mean…how could I not be? You're…" She flashed him a wide, enticing smile that implied everything ever printed about him. "…the irresistible Max Evans." Her gaze lowered guiltily and she bit her lower lip in the most adorable way. "I know that I have most likely sent you a million mixed messages. Like the kiss earlier. And in the car. The…" Blowing out a dreamy sigh she allowed a sly glance in Max's direction complete with a hint of seductive smile. "…several…in your office." Instantly lowering her gaze again, she continued contritely. "And…and I’m sorry for that because the truth is…" She took an exaggerated breath as if readying herself for a difficult admission. Max instantly bit down on the inside of his cheek, struggling not to burst into laughter when her wide-eyed innocent gaze met his. "…I have been involved with someone for quite a while now. He's a married man. Much older. And…Jaedan's father." "A…a married man." Max repeated. "Yes." Liz allowed the proper amount of guilt and shame to flitter through her expression. "I know I should be…ashamed for being…a 'mistress', but his marriage really is just a sham. He only stays with her because of his career, you see. And it's because of his career that we keep everything so quiet." "Oh, really." Liz nodded. "Yes. In fact, I really shouldn’t be talking about this at all. If the wrong people find out…" Liz lowered her voice as if imparting high risk information. "…it could be a matter of national security." "N-national security." "Uh-huh. You see, he's very high in the government. And if our relationship were known….well, there would be a very huge scandal." Liz's eyes widened with appropriate fear. "Not to mention potential danger for Jaedan and myself." Covering a chuckle by clearing his throat, Max managed to get out a necessary question. "And…this man…" Max paused as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. "…what did you say his name was?" The smile was forced as Liz batted her lashes. "I didn't." "Ah. Right." Max's gaze shifted. "So…this, uh…David…?" "There's no reason for you to know his name, Max." "Oh. Ok." Nodding as if in thought, Max pursed his lips before asking another question. "And I'm assuming that it's…" Once again attempting to force Liz to give a name, Max tossed one out. "…Tom's high government position that makes it necessary for you to have an assumed name and stay separated from Jaedan, right?" Liz's eyes brightened. "Exactly." She paused to bestow a grateful smile on him. "See." Liz let out a relieved. "I knew you would understand. Angel wasn't so sure that I should tell you this, but I knew you could be trusted." Max donnned an appropriately hurt expression. "But…what about us? I mean…I know what I felt from you. When you kiss me, it feels very real. And you did say yes to my initial proposal…" "Riiight." Gaze shifting uncomfortably, it was obvious Max had thrown her a curve ball. Improvisation wasn't Liz Parker's forte for nothing. She turned on her heel and began to pace. "You see, Max…I've wanted more out of my relationship for quite a while now. I think…you know, I think having someone like you…" She paused in her pacing to throw him an appropriate compliment. "…someone so handsome and powerful…so focused on just me. Well, it kinda went to my head. And frankly, when Jaedan's father found out about…well…" Making the appropriate hand gesture between herself and Max, she continued. "…us…he demanded that I break things off with you. In fact, he's the reason I moved to L.A. so suddenly. He's promised to spend a lot more time with us. So, in a round about way, I should be thanking you." "I see." Max answered quietly acting as if he were trying to process all of this new information. His gaze met hers. "So, you really love this guy huh?" "Uh-huh." Liz nodded as her gaze remained fixed on a point on the wall just over Max's shoulder. "And Jaedan…" "Adores him." Liz filled in quickly. "I know she doesn't talk about him much, but that's only because she doesn't really know he's her father." "I see." Max responded again. "Because of…" Liz joined him in finishing his sentence. "…national security." "Right." Max bit down even harder on the inside of his cheek to keep his inner laughter from exploding and ruining one of the best performances he'd seen yet. As he began to pace himself, Liz watched his every move, anxiously tucking her hair behind her ear and biting down on her lip. She knew it was a lame story. Then again, truth was often stranger than fiction and she did remember reading a story very much like the one she'd just retold to Max. What was the name of that book anyway? Hmmm. And it wasn't like it didn't happen. In fact, affairs ran rampant in the nation's capitol. Everyone knows that. So for Liz to be one of the participants…well, that wasn't **that** much of a stretch. Was it? No, of course it wasn't. After all, she was young and attractive. Talented… Now, if she could only remember the guy's name from that book just in case Max pressed the point. Seemed like it was Mike. Mitch. Mort… Max turned to her suddenly with a disappointed air. "Well, I guess there's nothing really more that I can say. You obviously love the guy enough to have his child and invest so much in a relationship that is clearly going nowhere..." "Hey." "Sorry. It's just…" Max shrugged. "…all you'll ever have with this guy are occasional nights in secret and a part time dad for Jaedan, but if that's what you want then who am I to argue?" "Well…" Liz's brow furrowed uncertainly. "…thanks. I guess." Wetting her lips she cleared her throat and squared her shoulders. "Well, I must say I thought you'd have a harder time with this." Another nonchalant shrug. "Come on. I've been around the block enough to know you can be attracted to someone while being thoroughly committed to someone else. And since you're obviously committed, I really have no choice in the matter but to wish you well and thank you for the fun I've had." "O...K…" Not quite sure how to end her obviously convincing performance, Liz just nodded and took a few steps toward the door. She stopped in front of Max and turned to him abruptly. "I…I hope we can still be friends. Especially since we still have to work together." Max smiled a slow smile that reached his eyes. It was the first sincere thing he'd heard out of Liz Parker's mouth since she'd begun her ridiculous story. Reaching out, he gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Always, Beautiful." A flash of uncertainty and hurt rippled through her eyes as Liz gave him a half smile before heading toward the door. Just as she reached it, Max caught up to her and grabbed her arm gently holding her back. "Wait. Just…one favor before you go?" Despite the red flags waving furiously in the back of her mind, Liz nodded with a power beyond herself as she gazed up into Max's mesmerizing eyes. "One last kiss?" Breath catching in her throat, Liz's eyes fluttered closed as Max leaned forward and lightly brushed his lips against hers. A helpless sound escaped her when electricity zipped from his lips to hers. Her fingers curled into the material of his shirt as she eagerly parted her lips for a deeper kiss. Max complied with her silent request but refused to invade the intimacy of her mouth keeping the relentlessly gentle assault on the surface. Releasing her bottom lip after one lingering tug, Max whispered against her lips. "Tell me his name…" She swallowed hard and leaned forward to brush her lips against his once more. Max pulled back to ghost her lips with a phantom kiss. Under Max's enchanting spell, the answer tumbled helplessly. "Mark…" Max ran his tongue teasingly along the crease of her lips before another whispered request. "Mark who?" A light moan of protest escaped her when Max tauntingly nuzzled her nose but kept his lips hauntingly close to hers. Snaking a hand around Max's neck, Liz's fingers began twisting the hair at the nape of his neck before pulling him back into her for a harder kiss. Max fought the smile rushing to his lips as he pulled back slightly with a breathless whisper. "Mark…who…" Liz breathed heavily against Max's lips. "Bar-ton…" "Thank you…." Max nuzzled her nose one last time. Brushing her lips with one last lingering caress then pulled back completely before abruptly ushering a dizzy and slightly dazed Liz through his door. It wasn't until she heard the click of the closed door behind her that Liz suddenly realized what happened. Damn him and those lips. Then again…it was her fault for falling under his spell. And in quick succession, she suddenly remembered the name of the hero in that book she'd read. Matthew Barton. And…what had she just said in her Max-induced haze? Didn't she say…Mark? Releasing a deep, shaky breath, Liz lightly ran her fingers over her swollen lips as a dreamy smile began to form. "Like it's going to make a difference. At least I made it out alive and now…" Determination flashing in her eyes, Liz took a step away from Max's door. "…no one will get hurt…." Inside, Max remained silent until he reached his couch. He plopped down, glanced at the room around him. Then burst into uncontrollable laughter, falling completely over onto the couch. After a good ten minutes of controlling his chuckles then losing the battle and tumbling headlong into giggles again, Max finally felt in enough control to make a phone call. Shaking his head at how adorable Liz had been the entire evening from the moment she stepped foot inside to the second he closed the door to her back, Max punched in numbers from his rolodex. He waited for the phone to be answered with a grin plastered on his face. When his call was picked up by a familiar White House secretary, Max cleared his throat and tried not to chuckle. "Yes, I'd like to speak with Press Secretary Mark Barton, please. Tell him it's his good friend Max Evans. And I need a huge favor…" Tbc… |
| posted on 18-Jun-2002 12:02:00 AM by Ashton |
| Hey all!!
Hope you aren't getting tired of this one, because I really really am enjoying this story right now! I realize that I jumped ahead 7 days, but I will be going back to show the details of what all happened, including why Liz is so pissed at Max in the beginning. Thanks again for all the amazing support. Hope you enjoy! Would LOVE to hear what you think!!!
BehrHugs, Ashton ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ chapter 8 ~ Seven days later…. Sydney Bristow sat on the table in the cage where she and Agent Michael Vaughn usually met for discussing covert operations. Tonight was different. Tonight was personal… Swinging her legs lightly, Sydney bit into the apple Vaughn had offered her. "So, I really thought there was going to be a murder at my apartment tonight." Vaughn leaned back in his chair, a slight smile haunting his lips. "Really? So, what did Max do to her now?" Brows furrowing, Sydney paused as she tilted her head to the side in thought. "Well. Now, that's kinda hard to say." "What do you mean?" Vaughn chuckled and popped a cookie in his mouth. "Well…I never quite got a good handle on what exactly happened." At the puzzled look on Vaughn's face, Sydney amended her statement. "Actually…what I should say is that I never got a clear picture of how Max fit into all that happened to her today…" Vaughn shrugged, clearly losing place in the conversation. "Explain." Sydney cleared her throat. "Ok. So, I went home after meeting with you because you said to take it easy since I just got back into town, right? Well…I'm lying there on the couch when all of a sudden…" Sydney Bristow sat up with a start when the front door of the apartment she shared with Liz slammed shut. With a perfect view of the door from her station on the sofa, Sydney's mouth dropped open and her eyes widened in shock. "Oh. My. God." Instantly jumping up from the sofa she headed straight for the door and a very bedraggled Liz Parker. "Liz! God, what happened to you?" Sydney attempted to wrap an arm around Liz. Gasping for air, Liz pushed her hand away and wildly gestured to her mouth and throat while struggling to speak. "What? What is it?" Sydney asked with rising panic. "W-wa-wat-water." "Water? You need water?" Liz nodded emphatically as she stumbled toward and nearly collapsed against the counter. Concern etched in every attractive feature of her face, Sydney attempted once more to aid Liz in sitting down on the nearest chair. Quickly slipping around the counter, she grabbed a glass filling it to the brim with ice cold water before turning back to Liz. Water splashed onto the counter top as Liz yanked the glass from Sydney's outstretched hand and gulped the rest down in one long gasping, desperate drink. Wiping her mouth with the back of her shaking hand, Liz pushed sweaty tangled strands of hair back from her face and slammed the glass onto the counter with a ringing thud. "More." The one word was a whispered rasp as Liz's head wearily dropped onto her arm resting on the counter. Sydney silently complied and returned in moments with a new glass of water for Liz to consume. Which she did. Less desperately, more slowly, but still with labored breaths that had Sydney seriously concerned. When the glass was heavily placed on the counter, Sydney leaned over and touched Liz's arm. "Liz? Hon, do you need more?" Liz shook her head slowly as her eyes drifted closed and she let out a deep shaking breath. Allowing her a moment of silence, Sydney filled the glass once more then came around to the other side of the counter and slipped onto a stool next to Liz. "Hey. Are you alright?" Nodding her head slowly, Liz let out another labored breath and attempted a smile. "Thanks." Relieved, Sydney returned the smile. "Sure." Immediate crisis having passed, Sydney sat back a little and took inventory of Liz's appearance. It was not a pretty sight. The hair that had been pulled back into a smooth, neat bun that morning was falling down in sweaty, tangled chunks around Liz's flushed, dirt smeared face and against slumped shoulders. The formerly crisp white blouse currently sticking to every inch of Liz's glistening skin was smudged with ugly grease stains and what looked very much like soot. The hem of her knee length straight skirt was unraveling and the natural split went much further up Liz's smooth leg than the designers ever intended. And to top it all off, the heel on one of her new Gucci shoes had broken completely off. Though Sydney had a sneaking suspicion what the answer would be, she had to ask. "Liz. What the hell happened to you?" As if in answer to her question, there was a knock on the door. Liz's eyes slowly drifted open as she let out a groan. Sydney grinned and patted Liz's arm. "I'll get it." Jumping up from her stool, Sydney quickly made her way to the door and opened it with a flourish. Before she got her mouth open to speak, she was met with an impatient demand. "Where is she? I need to see her." "Oh. My. God." Liz's head snapped up the second she heard his voice. Calling out to him, she didn't even bother to turn around. "You can march yourself right back out that door, Max Evans, because you seriously…SERIOUSLY…do NOT want to tangle with me right now." As usual, Max didn't listen. "Where the hell have you been? I've been looking all over…" His gasp of shock actually sounded sincere. The way his mouth dropped open and his eyes filled with horror…well, he was either truly stunned by the sight that greeted him or he was a very, very good actor. Liz figured the second option. "Honey, what happened?" Max took a step forward and attempted to capture her hands in his. Yanking her hands away, Liz squeezed her eyes shut. Her jaws tightened. Her words were pushed out through clenched teeth. "Honey? I…I know I couldn't have heard the word 'honey'. Syd? You're…you're not hearing things are you? Like…the voice…" Liz's blazing eyes opened to meet Max's. "…OF A COMPLETE LUNATIC!" Recognizing Liz's on-the-verge-of-breaking voice, Max backed up a step and held up his hands in surrender. "Ok. Sweetie, we just need to calm down right now." "Calm down?" Liz sat up straighter. "CALM DOWN?!" Jumping from her stool, Liz took one hobbling step toward Max. "Do you have ANY idea what I have been through today because of you!? ANY idea, Max?" Max shook his head and attempted to speak. Liz took another hobbling step toward him, her finger emphatically jabbing empty air. "I got lost in the middle of DOWN-FREAKIN'-TOWN L.A. With a broken down car. The taxis were like…I don't know…non-existent! My cell phone got stolen right along with my purse. And when I…I tried to chase the guy, I fell in a mud puddle and…and….ruined…" Tears of frustration began to well up in Liz's eyes as she looked down at her appearance and gestured at herself with her hands. "…me…" "Oh, honey..." Max attempted to take a step forward. Her head snapped up. Her voice was low with barely controlled anger. "And…and you. YOU…are the one that started it all!" Max blinked in confusion. Twice. "Me? But…but I offered you a ride…" "OH MY GOD!" Liz spun away from Max, her entire body shaking with anger. In the midst of that anger, Liz forgot she had only one good shoe. Spinning as quickly as she did, her ankle twisted and down she went with a cry of pain. Instantly in motion, Max scooped Liz up before her fall was complete. In one swift, smooth move he was cradling her in his arms and she was clinging to his neck as tears finally began to fall. "Shhh, sweetie, it's ok. I've got you now. Nothing can hurt you now." Max placed reassuring kisses on Liz's forehead before glancing up at Sydney. Nodding toward the hall, Max's suggestion was more of a command. "I'm taking her to her room. I think after that, she'll need a nice hot bath." "Right." Relieved to have something to do, Sydney nodded and followed Max down the hall taking a detour into the bathroom where she began a bath for Liz. "And…" Vaughn prompted. "What…and?" Sydney asked with a shrug. "I let them know the bath was ready and called you so I'd have a valid reason to leave." "Why the hell would you want to do that?" Vaughn asked, his hazel eyes clearly confused. Sydney rolled her eyes. "Don't you know anything about romance, Vaughn?" "Hey." Instantly taking offense, Vaughn sat up straight. "I'll have you know that I've had my fair share of girlfriends." "Yeah? So?" Sydney flipped her long, chestnut hair behind her shoulders. "That doesn't mean you know anything about romance." "Alice thought I did." Vaughn muttered under his breath, but loud enough for Sydney to hear. A flash of jealousy raced through her eyes at the mention of Vaughn's former girlfriend's name. "Yeah? Well then why did you break up?" At her question, Vaughn's gaze snapped up to meet hers with unspoken meaning. Sydney's breath held right along with his gaze. A flicker of…something raced through his eyes. Then he glanced away uncomfortably and shifted in his chair as he attempted to get the conversation back on equal footing. "So, uh…Max and Liz." Sydney blew out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Right. Max and Liz." "What do you think they're doing now?" Sydney rolled her eyes and let out a groan. "That's why I called you. To avoid knowing. That's just…too much personal information for me…" "Huh?" Vaughn's brows knit in confusion then raised in understanding when Sydney gave him a pointed look. "Oooh. So you think they're uh…" Sydney shrugged and raised her hands in an I-don't-know gesture. "But with the heat those two generate, I just hope they don't burn the apartment down…" Liz shivered against Max. Max instantly pulled the blanket closer around her as he wrapped his arm around her. Snuggling into Max, Liz sighed against his chest as his fingers began to play with her still damp hair. Her eyes drifted closed as warmth started seeping through her skin right to the very core of her soul. She felt so safe here. In her room. In his arms. In her bed. She smiled faintly at the thought. The last place anyone would say she'd be safe from Max would be there. But she was. She instinctively knew it. Just like she instinctively knew he was a part of her life now. A part she never wanted to let go of. A part she still wasn't fully ready to claim… Her soft, quiet voice broke the silence. "Max?" "Yeah?" "Thank you for taking care of me tonight." She could feel him smile against her hair right before kissing the top of her head. He let out a contented sigh as he snuggled closer to her. "Thanks for letting me." The note of relief in his voice caused Liz to pull back from him and shift so she could look into his eyes. Her whisper was soft and inquiring as large doe eyes full of awe blinked up at him. "You really mean that don't you?" Seriousness edged his voice as his gaze met hers. "Yeah, I really do." Smoothing her hair back, Max's gaze softened as his voice lowered as one finger reverently traced the curves of her face. "It's what makes me happy." A teasing smile haunted Liz's lips and her eyes began to dance. "You mean to tell me you've not been even the slightest bit happy this past week torturing me and driving me to the brink of insanity with all of this Mark Barton stuff?" Max's eyes danced with laughter as he began to chuckle. "Well…" "I knew it." Liz's smile widened as she raised a teasingly accusatory eyebrow. "You have been having a blast this past week." "Oh, and you haven't? Destroying my cell phones left and right…" Max grinned back. Liz buried her face in his chest trying to hide her smiles, but Max felt her chuckle go straight into his heart. Soaking up her warmth, his eyes drifted closed and a whisper escaped him before he could pull it back. "I love you so much." Liz pulled away from him, her expression serious. "Max…" She bit her lower lip and her eyes remained steadfastly fixed on the buttons of his shirt. "I'm sorry. I just…" His fingers feathered across her skin. "…when I saw your car broken down and I could find you earlier, I got scared. And it just came back to me once again how much you mean to me. How much I love you." Max responded softly as his penetrating gaze remained locked on her face. "I…I know you can't say it. I don't expect you to, but I have to. I honestly don't know how to feel this way and not…tell you…" Soft fingers slipped up Max's chest to cover his lips. "I…need time." Dark, uncertain gaze shifting slowly to meet his, Liz's voice shook with doubt-filled emotion. "Will you…can you wait for me?" A slow smile began at one corner of Max's lips and spread like a gentle breeze. "I'm not going anywhere." Lowering his lips to hers, Max sealed his promise with a tender, lingering kiss. Fingers caressing her skin, he pulled back with a smile. "Like it or not, you're stuck with me now…" "Yeah?" Liz smiled back. "Well, in that case…" Her fingers curling around his wrist as he cupped her face, Liz's eyes began to dance with teasing. "…you and I need to discuss the intolerable working conditions we've been forced to deal with this past week." "Intolerable?" Max inquired with a responding grin. "Uh-huh." Liz nodded her head as her eyes darkened devilishly. "You know…all those phone calls from Sasha, Bambi, Trixie…" Max chuckled. Shifting onto his back, he wrapped his arm around Liz as she snuggled against him and laid her head on his shoulder. "I think we need to talk about your wardrobe. All of those highly suggestive clothes you wear to work every day are enough to give a man a heart attack…" Liz rolled her eyes. "Highly suggestive? And who exactly was it that was practically stripped down to his boxers in my office?" "Ah, but those were special circumstances." "Uh-huh." Liz agreed with a smile. "Special circumstances that you created…" Hesitating outside Liz's bedroom door, Sydney Bristow smiled to herself before moving on to her own room after returning from her meeting with Vaughn. Swiftly drifting off to sleep with dreams of a certain CIA agent dancing in her head, she was blissfully oblivious to the sounds of a soft, hushed conversation detailing the events of the past week. A conversation that continued long into the night… Tbc… |
| posted on 19-Jun-2002 6:56:20 PM by Ashton |
| Hey all!!!!
Here's the next part. Now, I'm taking you back to the night Liz told that lie about Jaedan's father and will continue from that point. I'm so glad ya'll are enjoying this so much because I'm having a blast writing it. Now, this is all pretty much set up, but I do have the next part almost completed so, it should be out soon! Thanks for the AMAZING support!!! Let me know what you think!!! BehrHugs, Ashton ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ chapter 9 ~ The night of the BIG whopper of a lie…. Michael Vaughn watched with interest as Liz Parker paced silently in front of him. She'd been pacing since she'd arrived at his apartment. That was fifteen minutes ago. Brow furrowed and alternating between biting down on her lower lip and her nails, she was obviously in her own world. A world that produced unintelligible mumbles and frustrated sighs. Occasionally he could make out a despairing 'No, that won't work' or a 'Such an idiot' in the middle of her hushed ramblings. But for the most part she just paced while one slender finger worried a long strand of hair as she twisted and twirled it with a furious consistency that boggled Michael's mind. Finally, he spoke. "Ok. So, if you don't need me for that inner conversation you're having with yourself, I think I'm going to head to bed now." Hoisting himself upward, his butt managed to clear the couch before Liz stopped abruptly and spun to face him. "I've screwed up. Like…we're talking the mother of all screw ups here. I mean, this screw up is so gigantic that I…I just…" Her eyes widened in almost comical panic. "…I don't know what to do now!" Michael sighed with defeat. Then he plopped himself back onto the couch. Folding his hands with a patient air, Michael glanced over to the chair where his good pal and partner, Eric Weiss, had been staring at Liz with a goofy grin since she'd ruined their plans to watch the hockey game on tv by showing up unexpectedly at Vaughn's door. Vaughn rolled his eyes. Note to self: remind Eric to wipe the drool before he drowns in it. Double note to self: make sure you never look at Sydney with those ridiculous puppy dog eyes... Shifting his focus from his awe-struck friend to the object of his friend's admiringly dazed gaze, Vaughn shrugged. "Ok. So…what's this horrible thing you've done?" A hand flew to Liz's stomach as she took a deep breath before blurting out her two word answer. "I lied." Narrowing his eyes, Vaughn shook his head in confusion. "O…k…" A man used to living in a world of constant lies and half-truths, he wasn't quite feeling the earth shattering moment of truth as Liz revealed it. Especially from Liz, whose entire existence at this point was a living, breathing lie. "So…this lie is the end of the world because…" "I lied to Max." "Ah." Suddenly the confusion began to clear. Taking that as her cue to continue, Liz began a ramble that went around the world so many times, Vaughn felt dizzy when she was done. "Remember you told me to tell you the moment anything out of the ordinary happened? Well, it did. And I didn't. And I should have. Maybe if I had none of this would have happened. I mean…there's nothing you could have done to stop Max from actually coming to my office today, but if you'd known then maybe I could have had a valid reason to not go to lunch with him. But no, that wouldn't have worked either because he was determined to get me alone, and believe me when Max Evans wants something…he gets it." Liz immediately began to pace again. "Which is why this whole thing is so amazingly frustrating, because he thinks the thing he wants is me. But he can't want me because…" Wild, emphatic gestures accompanied her furious tumble of words. "…hello! Witness protection program. Life in danger. Daughter to protect. But the thing is…he knows. I mean…I told him. But it wouldn’t have mattered if I told him or not because he knew anyway. Not about the witness protection, but about Jaedan. And you know what he did? He brought her to me." Spinning to face Vaughn, Liz's face broke into a glorious smile her hands folded over her heart. "Isn't that just the most amazing, wonderful, selfless…" Her shoulders immediately slumped and her hands dropped heavily to her side, pulling the smile from her face as they went. "But then I lied to him. I mean…right to his face. A bold faced lie. And it wasn't even a good lie. In fact, it was totally lame. I mean…come on. Me and a high ranking government official? Hello! I've never even been to Washington. And now, my entire life is centered in that city. On an official who's not only married, but I made him Jaedan's father when he's probably somebody's grandfather!" She slapped her forehead as if a thought just hit her. "God, what am I saying? He's not even real. Jaedan's father is now nothing more than a phantom. A fanciful figment of my imagination…" "Liz." "I have no idea what in God's name I was thinking. It just…just kinda…" Liz's hands were in constant motion as she tried to find the right word. "Popped? Slipped? Flew?" Eric offered earnestly as he tried to follow the motion of her hands and interpret correctly. "Flew! Yes!" Liz exclaimed before bestowing a grateful smile on an appreciative audience. "Thank you!" "Oh, God…" Michael groaned and rolled his eyes as he actually watched a blush spread over Eric's face. "Ok. That's enough." Waving his hands in the air, Vaughn's voice cut off Eric's beaming smile. "Just…stop, ok?" Taking a deep, calming breath, he turned his gaze back to Liz. "Alright. Now, if I'm hearing you right, you told Max you're having an affair with an older married man who also happens to be Jaedan's father as well as an official with the government?" Liz bit her lower lip and nodded emphatically. Vaughn shrugged. "So, what's the problem?" Liz's mouth dropped open. Her gaze shifted from Vaughn to Weiss then back again. "What's…what’s the problem? The problem is who I lied to. I mean…Vaughn, you don't know Max. He is without a doubt one of the most intelligent men I've ever met." "Ah. So, you're worried that he didn't buy the lie." "Yes." Liz's nod quickly turned into a shaking of her head. "No. I…I…don't know. It all seemed too…easy, you know? But he also seemed…to really believe me." "Oh. I see." Hands landing on her hips, Liz's eyes flashed with accusation at the tone of Vaughn's voice. "And just what is that suppose to mean?" Shrugging, Michael settled further back into the plush cushions of his sofa. "Nothing. Just that I think it bothers you more that it didn't bother him more that you were involved with someone else than it does that he actually might not have bought the lie after all." Michael's tangled words brought a frown to Liz's face as her nose scrunched up in confusion. "Huh?" Letting out a sigh, Michael waved a dismissive hand in the air. "Look, it doesn't matter. The point is…you have a choice now. Either you go to Max and tell him the truth, or you continue the charade and bolster the lie." "Bolster the lie." Liz repeated. "Yeah. You know, do something that makes it more believable." Facing lighting up like a Christmas tree, Liz glanced from Vaughn to Weiss then back again. "Ohh, now, I like that idea." The light faded as quickly as it appeared. "But what could we do?" "Well, you could always do little stuff. Like, have someone send you anonymous flowers, which will most definitely pique his curiosity. And when he asks who they're from you could say its this man…." "Oh! No, I've got the perfect idea!" An excited Weiss broke into the conversation. "I could show up at your office as him! As your attractive, hot-to-trot boyfriend!" "No. Absolutely not." Vaughn immediately shot down the idea, completely aware of where the idea was coming. His friend's crush on Liz simply couldn't be more obvious. Well, at least to him. Obviously, other concerned parties were blissfully unaware as evidenced by Liz's immediate reaction. "No, wait, Vaughn!" Liz exclaimed just as excitedly as Eric. "I think that's a great idea! I mean, that would give me an actual arm to hang onto when Max is around. A quick introduction, a little bit of convincing coupleyness and he'd **have** to believe it!" "Are the two of you missing the obvious?" Vaughn asked as a flash of panic raced through him. Weiss and his crazy ideas he could handle. Liz and her crazy ideas he could handle. Weiss and Liz together…well, that might be a different story. "Obvious? What’s obvious?" "Hello. Eric is thirty-something and you're supposed to be manacled to a grandpa." Liz flashed Eric a smile as their eyes met with conspiratorial understanding. "A handsome, distinguished grandpa." Eric leaned forward with a grin. "An intelligent, suave grandpa." "A witty, elegant, refined grandpa so hot he'll blow Max Evans out of the water!" Liz exclaimed with a giggle. "Do you think they could make you look like Sean Connery in his Hunt for Red October days?" Eric sent Liz a wink. "Undercover ops can make me look like anyone you want, baby." Quickly getting the picture, Vaughn's dubious gaze shifted from Liz to Eric then back again. "Oh, you two cannot be serious." "What?" Liz and Eric asked in perfect, wide-eyed innocent union. Throwing his hands up, Michael shook his head. "I give up." Frustrated he jumped up from the couch. "Work out the details. I approve everything **before** it happens. Not one single rose is to be delivered without my permission. Got it?" Silent, enthusiastic nods were his answer. "Good." Running a weary hand through his hair, he shook his head. "I'm…I'm going to make a phone call. You two…do whatever…" Liz practically shoved Vaughn out of the way to plop down in the seat he had just vacated before she eagerly leaned forward, mirroring Eric’s position. Stumbling to the side, Vaughn stood a moment and stared at the two lunatics currently invading his apartment as the planning session got in full swing… "I think we should wait a few days." Liz suggested. "If you show up right away, he'll smell a set up." "Right." Eric agreed. "Oh, hey. Tonight's Thursday. Why don't I show up at work Monday morning, you know…like we just spent the weekend together and I'm heading back out to DC." "Oh, that's perfect. I could talk up the secret plans I have next meeting we have. I think he’s supposed to stop by the office tomorrow some time…" "Yes! Hint around that it's this man…" Eric readily agreed. "Uh…did you give this guy a name?" "Yeah. His name is Matt. Matt Barton…" Heading to his room Vaughn shook his head and groaned in resignation as two excited voices continued hammering out the details of what Vaughn figured could only end up being the disaster of the year… ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After having been silent for a good twenty minutes while hearing Max's version of the night's events and the plans he'd already set into motion, Alex chuckled into the phone. "Max. Have you ever considered the possibility that you are, in fact, a direct descendant of the Devil himself?" Max grinned into the phone. "On occasion." Shaking his head, Alex leaned back in his chair. "You are having a ball with this aren't you?" "Oh, man, Alex." Max's short sigh was enough to give Alex indication just how much fun Max was having. But just in case he hadn't been sure, Max filled him in some more. "I am having the best time. And it's all because of Liz. I mean, there's no way this would be so much fun if she weren't so damn cute. I mean, we're talking off the charts adorable here." "Yes, she can be that." Alex agreed. "I swear, if you could have seen her tonight." Max continued, the love and pride evident in his voice. "You would have fallen head over heels right where you sat. She was so funny wiggling her way through that horribly lame lie of hers, it took everything in my power not to..." "What?" Alex teased. "Throw her over your shoulder like a caveman, carry her to your room and have your way with her?" There was a slight pause in which that image was firmly fixed in Max's mind before he answered. "Well…that too." Alex joined Max's laughter. "Well, pal, I have to say it is good to hear you so happy." "Yeah." Max's voice softened to a quiet seriousness. "Yeah, it feels good to be this happy." Letting out a sigh, Max settled back against the pillows on his sofa. "I want to keep this for as long as I can, Alex. So…you think you can help me?" "Yeah, I think I can help." Alex pulled out a list and ran his finger down till he came to the information he was looking for. "Alright. For tomorrow…I can get five.” “Five? Sure they can make it on such short notice?” “Yeah, they’ll make it. Is that enough?” “Should be.” Max commented before a new thought hit him. “Make sure they know the effect I’m going for, ok?” Alex chuckled. “Believe me, Max, these five will have no problem delivering the goods.” Max grinned with satisfaction. “Good. Why don’t they meet me here at say 7:00? That will give me enough time to take care of details before they arrive separately at the office. I want this in full swing before Liz gets there in the morning.” “Got it.” “Great. Now…for the second half of the plan…” Max prompted. “Riiiight.” Alex drawled as he pulled out another list. Pondering over the names a moment, Alex’s blue eyes lit up when he ran across an unexpected name. “Oh, wow. This is going to be perfect.” “What?” Releasing a sigh of satisfaction, Alex couldn’t disguise his pleasure at his find. “How would you like Steve?" “Steve? **Our** Steve?” Max asked with an edge of excitement in his voice. “The very one.” Alex confirmed. “Man, that would be so great to see him again. God, it’s been…years…” “Yeah, he’s still in fine form.” Alex commented, beginning to fill Max in on the teams’ latest mission without revealing too many details. “On our last ops, he played you like he was born to the role. Our Irish pals couldn’t tell the difference.” Alex paused as an idea hit him. “You know…” Max sat up straight. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” “I think I am thinking what you’re thinking.” He paused. “What are you thinking?” Max grinned devilishly. “I’m thinking you need to tell me how fast Steve can get here so we can strategize maximum impact.” Getting into the game just as much as Max was, Alex chuckled as he clicked on his calendar on his computer. There was a moment of silence while he was looking up information, then… “Monday morning soon enough? Disguised to your liking, of course.” “That’s perfect.” Max began to laugh as a new image popped into his mind. "What?" "Oh…nothing." Barely able to get out the words, Max could feel tears welling up in his eyes. Alex let out a groan. "Come on, Max. Let me in on the secret." Clearing his throat and wiping away tears of laughter, Max tried to control that inner bubble of joy that simply wouldn't go away. "Ok. So, when you said 'disguised to your liking', I just got this image of exactly the kind of man Mark Barton should be." "Oh, no." Alex groaned, knowing the devious mind of his friend much better than most and instantly guessing where Max's line of thinking was going. Straight back into time to a certain made up character they'd often used on former missions. Max chuckled and nodded his head. "Oh, yes." Alex rolled his eyes as a grin began to form. "Please don't tell me you're thinking…" "Homer Thickbottom." Max joined Alex in finishing his sentence. Alex burst into laughter. "God, Max…you are a brave, brave man. She is going to absolutely flip." "That's what I'm counting on, Alex." Max's eyes danced devilishly as he leaned back in his seat. "That's what I'm counting on…" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kyle slipped through the door of a rented penthouse suit to find McKenna stretched out on the couch reading a magazine. "Hey." "Hey." Barely glancing his way, she flipped the page and continued to read the article she was thoroughly engrossed in. Kyle tossed his keys on the nearby table and headed toward a chair where he plopped down and began to remove his shoes. Dropping them next to the chair with a thud he leaned back with a deep, weary sigh. "God, that feels so much better. I'm telling you, if all days were like today, I wouldn't see the point of getting up in the mornings." McKenna didn't respond. Kyle watched her through barely opened eyes. "So, uh…how was your day? Anything exciting?" Silence. Kyle shifted in his chair and became more alert. "McKenna. Hello…you over there?" McKenna's emerald gaze shifted to Kyle and for the first time she really zoned in on him seeming to realize that he had indeed been speaking to her. "Huh? Oh. Yeah, it was fine." Nodding toward the magazine, Kyle shrugged off her lack of attentiveness. "What's so engaging over there?" "Funny you should mention engagements." McKenna commented as she shifted against the pillows on the couch till she was half sitting, half reclining. Kyle's brows furrowed. "I did?" McKenna shrugged. "Well. Close enough." Holding up the magazine that held her interest, she leveled Kyle with pointed look. "You said Max had never asked anyone to marry him except me." Dread instantly formed as a knot in Kyle's stomach. "Yeah, that's right." He got up from his chair and headed to a side bar to pour himself a glass of liquor. "So, I was thinking. If I'm the only girl Max has ever proposed to, then…in essence, we're still engaged." "McKenna, that was over five years ago. Believe me, Max has not been living his life like a committed man." Kyle took a long swig of his drink. Back turned to McKenna, Kyle missed the flash of pure jealous rage that raced through her eyes. Her lips tightened into a fierce white line and she had to force herself swallow the lump of disgust that rose in her throat at the idea of Max being with any other woman but her. She tried to sound casual as she pushed out the lie. "Of course not, Kyle. I wouldn't expect him to." "So…what's the point here?" Kyle asked with a little more edge to his voice than he'd wanted. "The point is, Kyle…" McKenna swung her legs off the couch so she could face him. "…I'm still his fiancee'. Which means, I should be planning a wedding. And I can't do that if I can't see my future groom." "Ah." Kyle turned to face her as he leaned against the bar. "You're getting antsy again, aren't you?" "Wouldn't you be?" She asked with a note of injury in her voice. "I mean, you told me to trust you. You said I'd get to see Max again when the time is right." She raised flashing eyes of accusation to meet his. "That was two months ago." "Yes, it was. And the time still isn't right." McKenna tossed the magazine to the side in frustration. "What the hell is the problem, Kyle? What is so difficult with just taking me to Max and saying 'Guess what? I've got great news. The woman you loved more than life itself is still alive.'" Letting out a weary sigh, Kyle closed his tired eyes. "We've gone over this, Kenna. The problem with doing that is things have changed. Max has changed. He does not like to be blindsided. By anyone for any reason." "I would think…" Kyle slammed his glass down on the counter. "That's your problem, Kenna. You've been thinking too much and talking too little." "You know, if that's the way you feel maybe it's time I take things into my own hands." McKenna returned tersely as she jumped up from the sofa, her blazing eyes meeting his. Kyle smirked. Despite his earlier comments to Alex about not knowing of any chinks in McKenna's armor, Kyle believed he might have found one. And it was time to put that theory to the test. "Fine." McKenna blinked, uncertain she'd heard him right. "Fine? What…what do that mean?" "It means what I said. If you're so convinced that you know Max now better than I do…his brother that has been by his side through every major event in his life, including your death, by the way…then, fine." Moving to the phone, Kyle grabbed it up and held it out to her. "Call him." McKenna stared at the phone in disbelief. She also stared at it in overwhelming fear. Fear of rejection. Fear of being sent away. The way he did before… "Go on. Take it." Kyle urged softly as he watched her reaction closely. He was calling her bluff and his gut told him, she wouldn't call his back. Blinking back sudden tears, McKenna plopped back down onto the couch and hid her face in her hands as she shook her head. "No. No, I…can't." A thrill of victory raced through Kyle as he replaced the phone and softly crossed the room to slip onto the table in front of her. Taking her hands in his, Kyle forced himself to remain kind as he lifted her chin so she was looking in his eyes. His smile was warm though the heart it was coming from was as cold as ice toward the recipient. "Soon. I promise you. The time will be right very soon…" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Grabbing up the phone the second ring, Max stifled a yawn. "Max here." "Max? It's Carmen." Max was instantly alert. "Carmen. I've been wondering when I'd hear from you." "Yeah, I'm sorry it took longer than I thought." The private detective's tone was apologetic, but also full of promise. "But I think you'll agree that it was worth it when you hear what I have to tell you." Quickly grabbing a pen and paper, Max's eyes hardened. "Well, in that case, I'm all ears." "First of all…you were right. Kimberly Edwards is not who she says." "That was a given." Max commented offhandedly. "So, you have any idea who she is yet?" "Unfortunately, no. All I have at this point is a list of aliases that keep growing by the minute." "I want that list." Max stated firmly. "Already on your fax machine." Carmen replied before continuing. "Although I don't have a definite id yet, I do know where she disappeared to a couple of months ago when you attempted to transfer her to a branch location. In fact, it's rather interesting because she's been spending the last two months with someone you know very, very well." Eyes narrowing, Max swallowed hard hoping upon all hope the answer to his question wasn't going to be what he gut was telling him it was. "Really. And uh…who would that be?" He knew the answer before he heard it. "Your brother, Kyle…" tbc… [ edited 1time(s), last at 19-Jun-2002 7:07:27 PM ] |
| posted on 20-Jun-2002 11:18:50 PM by Ashton |
| Hey all!!!!
Here's the next part. Glad you're loving this one so much!! Hope you enjoy the next part!!! Would LOVE to hear what you think!!! Thanks as always for the amazing feedback!!!!!
BehrHugs, Ashton If you need back chapters of any of my stories you can join my egroup at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AMDreamerFanfiction/ Go to the files section, there are folders for each story.
~~~~~~~~~~ ~ chapter 10 ~ Day 1: Liz's confidence from the night before began to fade the moment she stepped in the doors of her office building. The sly smiles and giggled whispers of co-workers that stopped abruptly as she approached and commenced immediately on her passing nibbled away at that confidence even more as she headed through a sea of curious eyes toward her office door. She paused just outside, feeling as if the entire office was watching for her reaction to something cataclysmicaly dreadful waiting just inside for her. She spun on her heels and, with one accord, a multitude of gazes dropped guiltily to folders and computer screens. Her eyes narrowed as they swept over a seemingly busy office. The feeling of dread in her stomach tripled. Steeling herself with a deep breath, Liz squared her shoulders, slowly turned back to her office door, reached for the handle and… "Rachel! Wait!" Head snapping to the side where here assistant, Gabe, had practically screamed her name as he rushed up to her. Liz blinked in shocked concern. "Gabe, what's wrong?" Face flushed with agitation, his words tumbled and tangled helplessly. "Tried…I…him…stop…but….to authorize…keep…out…Steph said..." Turning to Gabe she placed her hands on his shoulders and looked into his frantic eyes. "Gabe. Slow down. What are you trying to tell me?" Her door opened with a flourish and a smirking Max Evans leaned casually against the door jam while holding the door open with his hand. "I think he's trying to say that he tried to keep me out of your office, but Steph had already given me the authority to…" Glancing past Max's shoulder into her now exposed office, Liz's mouth dropped open. "Oh. My. God." Stunned, she pushed her way past Max by ducking under his arm and entering her office. Which was…no longer her office. It was **their** office. Hers and Max's. And how could she tell? Where one desk had previously sat in the center facing the door with one chair pushed behind it and one coat rack strategically placed in the corner, now there were two desks butted up against each other. The chairs behind both desks…faced each other. A bookcase and file cabinet had been to the corner behind one desk. Workers were quickly, efficiently installing computer equipment on Max's desk while a row of five, long-legged, bronzed-skinned models lined one wall. "What…what is…" "Relax." Max's voice was low in her ear. "It's only temporary." "TEMPORARY!?" Liz spun to face Max. Toe to toe, her eyes were blazing with instantly angry fire. An emphatic finger pointed toward the workers. "Temporary is why you're having a computer and phone and fax machine installed?" Unfazed by her anger, Max shrugged nonchalantly. "Those are standard for any viable businessman. And since I do need a base of operations while I'm here…" Max glanced around the space with an air of satisfaction. "…and your office **was** the biggest…" "STEPH'S office is the biggest!" Liz countered heatedly. "Right." Max agreed with a nod. "But she's the director. She can't have someone sharing her space. Not even a multi-trillionaire like myself…" “But…” A breathy voice broke into Liz’s rebuttal of Max's explanation. "Mr. Evans?" Liz turned a heated glare on the tall, busty blonde in a skimpy skirt and even skimpier top. She batted long, heavily made up lashes. "Candi and I here were wondering…will we get to watch our soaps on that little tv? I'm so into that dishy corporate raider on General Hospital…" "Uh…what tv?" Max asked as his gaze slipped to his desk in confusion. She pointed a long wildly painted fingernail in the direction of the monitor sitting on his desk. Max’s tone was patient with not a hint of superiority. It was very much the way one would speak to a child to explain the elementary facts of life. “Oh. No, Dani, that's not a tv. That's a computer monitor. You'd actually have to use that for work…" Rolling her eyes, Liz's furious, flashing gaze settled back on Max as her hands hit her hips with sudden irritation. "You're unbelievable." "What?" Max batted his eyes innocently and managed to bite back a chuckle at the unmistakable jealousy ripping through her midnight eyes painting them an obvious shade of envious green. Liz took one step closer to Max, their bodies only mere inches apart. The heat from her glare shot his temperature straight into the stratosphere and his heart began a loud roaring thud in his chest. Expression unreadable, the rest of his body was clearly fighting the urge to take her in his arms and attack her lips with a kiss so explosive the entire West Coast would think they'd been hit by an earthquake. It was the surest, most pleasurable way to capitalize on all that barely controlled passion simmering through her every cell, feeding her anger. As his intense gaze focused on lips, Max could still feel his own burning from her kisses the night before. In response, his hands clenched and unclenched inside his pants pockets and he forced himself to ebb the flow of desire that was suddenly coursing through him. Her next words aided his struggle rather adeptly. And at the same time made him want her even more. Her voice was low with venomous disdain as she emphasized every word deliberately. "If you think I'm going to share my office with some beach blonde bimbo so that you can feel more like a man, you have another thing coming, buster." "Ouch." Max winced in mock injury. "That really hurt.” Laying on the guilt rather thickly, he continued with innocent, puppy dog eyes. “After all we’ve been through, how could you say something so obviously sexist and so blatantly untrue…" “Maxie-pooh…” Liz’s eyes widened as a manicured hand suddenly appeared on Max’s suit jacket and slowly, seductively slipped upward over the curves of his hidden, but well-defined chest. Flashing dangerously murderous, dark eyes followed the hand to the wrist, the wrist to the arm and finally the arm to the face of the woman currently snuggling unashamedly up to Max. An eyebrow raised in disbelief when the woman gazed up into Max’s face as if Liz didn’t even exist. Her bubble lips pushed outward in an attempt at a pretty pout and the whine of her voice and her coy upward gaze left no question what position she was applying for. “When is all this boring stuff gonna be over so we can go…” She ran a painted nail teasingly across his lips then down Max’s chin before dropping her hand to his shirt where she suggestively began to play with one of his buttons. Her seductive gaze snapped up to meet his holding very few secrets as to her definition of her next word. “…play. Just like you promised.” Max allowed a smile to play on his lips as he gazed down at the doe-eyed brunette. His husky voice lowered seductively as he leaned toward her. “Patience, luv. When have you ever known me to welch on a promise.” He sent her a sly wink. “Especially when it comes to playtime…” “Uh…excuse me.” Blood literally boiling, Liz felt the fury rising to a heated blush on her cheeks. It was glaringly obvious to her if anything of real worth was going to be accomplished, it would be up to her to take control. So, take control she did. Using her thumb and index finger, Liz firmly removed the woman’s hand from Max’s chest with a look of disgust that rivaled that of holding a dirty diaper in mid-air. She let the stranger's hand drop heavily then placed her hands on Max’s chest as she firmly walked him backward several steps creating an adequate physical distance between Max and his…floozy. Once confident he was far enough back that she wouldn’t be treated to more of the same nauseating scene, Liz turned to face the woman and crossed her arms in front of her, the authority in her voice leaving no doubt who was the superior in the office. Liz flashed the woman a tense, practiced smile that almost sent Max into a fit of laughter. "Hi. I'm Rachel Harris. And you are…" "Bambi." If looks could kill, Max would have exploded into a million pieces with the volcanic glare Liz shot him over her shoulder. It clearly screamed "THIS is Bambi?" Max simply smirked and shrugged. Turning back to 'Bambi', a dark eyebrow raised. “Well, **Bambi**, on the off chance that you don’t have the necessary brain cells to put two and two together, let me help you out with something. When two people…” She deliberately pointed to Max then to her herself mouthing the words 'one' and 'two'. “…are standing in front of each other…” Waving her hand in the air, she indicated Max and her own position. “…and there are words coming out of their mouths…” Liz used her own lips as a visual. "…that usually means they are in a…" Eyes widening, Liz leaned forward and said the obviously long word very slowly. "…con-ver-sa-tion. And when two people are in a con-ver-sa-tion, it's usually not a good thing to interrupt.” A look of confusion passed through Bambi’s wide brown eyes before an irritated frown touched her lips. Clearly feeling the impact of an insult when she heard it, though seemingly not sure of it’s meaning, Bambi’s eyes raked over Liz scathingly. Unfortunately, she lacked the skill for an equally scathing comeback. So, she gathered as much venom as possible for her retaliation. Which was, overall, pretty lame. "Well, I never!" Bambi crossed her arms and spun on her heels to flounce back to the all star line-up. "Yeah? Well, if I can help it, you never will again." Liz mumbled under her breath. Clucking the roof of his mouth with his tongue, Max shook his head disapprovingly though his eyes were shining unabashedly with admiration. He leaned forward to whisper in her ear so only she could hear his use of her ‘real’ name. "Really, Kendall. I had no idea you had such a jealous streak in you." "Jealous?! Me?!" Liz spun to face him and opened her mouth to protest more but closed it when she saw the twinkle of laughter in Max's eyes. "Oh, I get it." Her chuckle sounded a bit forced and the grin that crossed her lips definitely was, but Max couldn't help the twitching at the corners of his mouth when Liz seemed to finally buy a clue. "This is all about last night isn't it?" "I have no idea what you're talking about." Masking his expression expertly, Max responded seriously. "Oh, you don't?" Liz asked, her hands landing back on her hips as she squared off with him again. She lowered her voice to a heated whisper. "You don't remember me coming to your place and…" "Ah, yes." Max flashed her a grin, implying there had been more than one 'last night' event he had to sift through in his mind. "**Our** last night." He leaned forward locking eyes with Liz and lowering his voice as well. "See, last night was personal. Last night…you made it perfectly clear where you and I stand. And if I remember correctly, you are currently involved with someone while I am, as I always have been…a consummate playboy free to do what and…" Glancing over at Bambi, he sent her a wickedly sly wink and flashy grin that underscored the double meaning of his next word. "…whomever I choose." "You are such a jerk!" Liz hissed back at him. "Why?” His eyes snapped back to hers. “Because I know how to separate business from pleasure?" Max shot back with an equal hiss. "Or because as far as I'm concerned, our personal last night ended last night.” Cocking an eyebrow at her, Max’s eyes darkened dangerously. “And because of that…you just became business, my dear." Switching gears swiftly, he flashed her a practiced smile and nodded to the activity around them. Giving her a pointed look, Max leveled the phrase that he figured would render her speechless. "**Strictly** business." He figured correctly. Liz's mouth dropped open and a flash of hurt raced through her eyes. Max bit back an instinctive apology and continued as if he didn't notice. If he didn’t control that urge to see her smile every second of the day, this plan of his would never, ever have a change of working. "Now, as you can see, I am trying to set up shop. To do that, I need a secretary." Recovering quickly from Max's cold, surgical words, Liz crossed her arms in front of her to ward herself from any future chill Max might send her way. "You have a secretary, Max. Her name is Barbara. Very nice, stable, **older** woman who knows how to dress appropriately for the office." "Yes.” Max nodded then shrugged. “Unfortunately, Barbara's not here. Which is why I need to hire someone else." "Fine!" Liz indicated the five women standing against the wall, blowing bubbles with their gum, filing their nails, and primping in their compact mirrors. "But one of THEM?!" "Shhh." Taking Liz by the elbow Max moved her further away from the pseudo-secretarial pool and lowered his voice. "Don't you think you've insulted them enough?" Somewhat chastised, frustrated eyes gazed up into his. "Tell me you aren't serious about this." Max paused as if in thought, then he did what he had planned on doing all along: he conceded. "Alright. If you think you can find me a better secretary then have at it." "Fine." Liz nodded as she crossed her arms in front of her. "I will get you an assistant by noon." "Fine." Cocking an eyebrow at her, Max looked at her expectantly. "Well…are there any other complaints?" "Yes, as a matter of fact there is." "Ok." Crossing his arms in front of him, Max readied himself for her next attack. In the next heartbeat, he almost lost his composure. He almost lost it, because it was the closest Max had ever seen Liz Parker whine. Face scrunched up, her pleading, puppy dog eyes turned up to meet his. "Do you **have** to be in **my** office? I mean, come on, Max. You are so rich you could buy and entire office building if you wanted. Or…or rent space somewhere else. Or…hell, if you really wanted, knowing you, you could probably ask to buy a cloud in the sky and someone, somewhere would float one right on over to you. A big fluffy, puffy white one." A grin split Max's face. He simply couldn't help it. She was being that all-girl adorable thing again and well, after what he'd said about her being only business he felt he should throw her a crumb or two to keep her off balance. “You are…” Eyes dancing with admiration, Max let out a little sigh as his hand reached out to tuck a single strand of hair behind her ear. He allowed his fingers to slowly trail downward barely grazing the sensitive skin on her neck before dropping his hand heavily at his side. “…so damn adorable.” Liz glanced away and bit down on her lower lip, the surest sign Max Evans knew that he was getting to her. Forcing himself to continue the game, the confidence of a final victory surged through him. “Look, I need work space. You and I are working on the same charity project together. It’s only temporary and it overall, it made sense.” He paused waiting for her uncertain gaze to meet his. Holding up his hand in a scout salute, Max started to smile, knowing full well the fingers deep in his pants pocket were crossed to superstitiously negate any promise he made. “I’ll stay out of your way as much as possible. I swear. Scout’s honor.” The beginning of a smile started to form and barely made its way to brighten Liz’s eyes when the sound of a high pitched voice instantly pulled any good humor from Liz's expression. "Maxie-pooh, I'm really getting tired." "Thinking a bit too hard, are you?" Liz asked sarcastically under her breath as she sent a scathing glare in Bambi's direction. Max covered a chuckle by clearing his throat. Holding up a finger he winked at Bambi then turned to Liz with a gentle suggestion that was clearly more of a command as he nodded toward the door. "I think it might be best if you uh…" Letting out a deep, resentful sigh Liz raised a dark eyebrow. "Fine. I need to find your assistant anyway. I'll be back by noon and I expect to see the uh…" She batted her lashes dramatically and inclined her head toward the row of girls. "…harem gone by the time I get back." "You got it, Beautiful." Max responded with a smirk. Liz rolled her eyes and pushed her way past him slamming the door behind her. Max waited till the door was safely closed behind Liz and that she wasn't coming back before he hung his head and began to chuckle. Turning to the five ladies lined up against the wall, Max grinned and raised an inquiring eyebrow. “Well? What do you think?” ‘Bambi’ was the first to answer. Her grin mirrored the laughter in her eyes. “I like that girl.” “Me too.” ‘Candi’ responded quickly. “She’s got guts.” “And fire.” ‘Dani’ added. “Oh, yeah. She definitely has that.” ‘Bambi commented, nodding her head in approval. “You were right on the mark about this ‘Bambi’ of yours. Definitely a sore spot with her. Or did I just go a bit overboard?” “Nope. You were perfect.” Max reassured as he shook her hand and winked. “Did even better than the real Bambi would have.” “Good." She smiled with a warm suggestion. "You might need to keep that one alive for a bit. Jealousy is a good tool if used right.” Max shrugged. “We’ll see.” “She’s a keeper, Max. Certainly doesn't let you get away with anything and that's always a good thing in my book.” One of the previously silent candidates finally spoke up with a teasing grin before she became serious. “Don’t let that one go.” “I don’t intend to, Linda.” Taking the woman’s hand in his he leaned over and gallantly kissed it giving it an appreciative squeeze. “Good.” She smiled warmly at Max. “When you finally get her tied down enough, you need to bring her over for dinner. Ted would love to meet the woman that tamed the Coyote.” "We'll do." Max promised. "Thank you. All of you. I know it was short notice and you this is certainly not agency business, so I appreciate it more than you know. It went just the way I wanted it to go." Linda spoke for the group as they headed toward the door. "Yeah, well, we all expect invites to the wedding…" Max chuckled as he escorted the women to the door. "You'll get them. Thanks again." Saying their good-byes and closing the door behind the last woman, Max leaned against the door with a devilish grin. It wasn't until a technician addressed Max that he realized he wasn't alone. "Uh…sir? Can I offer a suggestion?" "Sure." Max answered, clearly thinking the technician had words of wisdom for his new Pentium installation. Glancing at the other two techs, the guy whose name tag read 'Rex' began to speak dispelling any notion that only women are matchmakers. "Well, me and the guys was thinking that it's pretty obvious you're into this woman. And from her reaction to the babes that just left, well…she's certainly not willing to share any time soon." "Yeah?" Max prompted, liking what he was hearing so far. Rex nodded. "But see, here's the thing. You seem like the type of man that's not gonna stop till she's screaming 'yes' and well, she doesn't seem like that type that's gonna give in that easily so…" "Yes?" "We was thinking ya might want to invest in a bullet proof vest." The two other techs nodded vigorously at the suggestion. "Maybe even an impenetrable shield right here between the two desks here…" Max's laughter filled the room as three very confused technicians looked at each other then back at Max as if they were suddenly standing in a loony bin. ~~~~~~~~~~~ The efficient looking receptionist looked up as Liz walked in. "Hello. May I help you?" Liz glanced at the large company logo, Staffs Are Us, before nodding her head and pushing back a stray piece of hair. "Yes. I need a secretary by noon." "Oh, well, we have several candidates. I'm sure we'll be able to find someone that fits your qualifications, Miss…" "Harris. Rachel Harris." Liz answered quickly. The woman smiled. "Alright, Ms. Harris. Would you like to give me a list of qualifications…" Slapping a quickly scribbled list down on the desk, Liz nodded curtly. "There. I need someone like that by noon. Think you can deliver?" The woman's smile faded as a blonde eyebrow raised. "Uh…well…these are rather…unique qualifications…" "Really?" Liz asked innocently. "I thought they were rather reasonable." "Yes, yes, I'm sure you do. Is this secretary for yourself or…" "Oh, no." Liz shook her head. "I'm shopping for a…friend." The tone of her voice caused the receptionists gaze to snap up to meet hers. Instant understanding dawned in her eyes. "Ah, I see. Husband or boyfriend is screwing around on you with the latest big busted bimbo that calls herself an assistant, right? You're looking for a little…revenge perhaps?" Pursing her lips in thought, Liz shrugged and fudged the truth. "Something like that." "In that case…" The receptionist leaned forward and crooked her finger causing Liz to mirror her action by leaning forward too. Glancing around, the receptionist lowered her voice to a whisper. "…have I got just the gal for you…" tbc… [ edited 1time(s), last at 20-Jun-2002 11:25:49 PM ] |
| posted on 23-Jun-2002 12:32:25 PM by Ashton |
| Hey all!!!
Me again! Back with another update. Again, I hope you're not getting tired of this! Would LOVE to hear what you think! Your feedback has really been amazing and I appreciate it more than I can say!!!! Hope you enjoy!! BehrHugs, Ashton ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ chapter 11 ~ "No, I am not satisfied." Max's jaw tightened as he shook his head and tossed the newest reports he'd just pulled from his new installed fax machine. "Barbara, this is simply not what I asked for." "Max…you are heading for trouble with this Parker deal." Barbara answered back in a low voice. "That is not your call to make." Max responded back hotly. "You are to get me the information then back the hell out of my way." Silence greeted his heated comment. Squeezing his eyes shut, Max let out a weary sigh. "Look, Barbara, I’m sorry…" "This has to do with her, doesn't it?" Barbara interrupted quietly. "This has to do with Kendall Blake." After a moment's silence, Max answered knowing there was no point keeping any secrets from Barbara, especially since she had clearly already figured it out. "Yes." "Max…" Determination flashed in his eyes. "He hurt her, Barbara. I can't let that pass." "Who says it's your decision, Max? I mean, has she asked you to fight her battles? Exact her revenge? Or are you using this as a way to atone for something completely unrelated to the woman you're currently pursing?" Max stiffened in his chair and his voice tensed. "Just what is that supposed to mean?" "It means you've always carried this weight on your shoulders, Max. Ever since I've known you; long before Kendall came into your life. There's this burden…this sense of responsibility…you carry around with you like a badge of disgrace. Like you've done something so horrific it will never be forgiven. Oh, you don't let too many people see it. You save it for special moments when feel like loathing yourself." "Barbara, this conversation is ov…" "You don't talk about it, but it's there, Max." Barbara continued despite Max's obvious attempt to shut her down. "And if you think she doesn't see it, you are sadly mistaken." She paused, her voice tightening with emotion. "And I'll tell you something right now. Kendall Blake is not the kind of woman who will appreciate you stirring up her pain and using grievances from her past to make yourself feel better about your own past mistakes." "That's not what I’m doing." Max responded tersely. "No? Then what are you doing? Do you even know?" "Not that it's really any of your business, but I’m doing this for Jaedan." Max shot back heatedly as he leaned forward in his chair. "For Jaedan." Disbelief rang through the phone loud and clear. "Max, all that sweet little girl wants from you is your love. Not some twisted revenge you want to carry out in her name." "With all due respect…" The tone of Max's voice left no room for doubt. He was beyond pissed. "…you have no idea what is going on. You don't know the first thing about any of the players. I do. And if I decide that I'm going to squash Jeff Parker like the irritant he is then I will do it. And there is nothing you or anyone else can say that will stop me." "Not even Kendall?" Barbara's question met stubborn silence. "Fine. You know what? You go ahead. Hurt your chances with her." "Hurt my chances." Max repeated. "Yes. I'm telling you now, Max, you're methods on this…they're going to turn her against you." Barbara's curt response caused Max's jaws to tense. "And you know, I was under the impression that you really loved this woman. That this one was for real and that you wanted to make her happy. But I see now that I was wrong." Fire flashed in his eyes and his hands clenched in barely controlled anger. "How dare you…" "Love doesn't use people to hurt other people, Max. It just doesn't." "We're done with this." Max announced. "And you're off the Parker deal." The phone line went dead and Max Evans let out a growl of frustration before furiously punching in a new set of numbers. The phone was answered in a matter of moments. "Em. It's Max. I need your answer now." "Now?" Emily Parker sounded alarmed and confused. "But, Max, I thought you said…" "Things have changed slightly and I need to know if you're on my side or not." Max explained tightly. "Now, what's the answer?" There was a moment's silence. A deep breath. Then an answer. "Yes." Max's expression relaxed a little. "You're sure?" "I'm positive." "Alright." Max let out a relieved breath and leaned back in his chair as his eyes flashed dangerously. "I need you to get me some information. I need to know everything, and I mean **everything** about Jeff's holdings…" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "You're kidding." "Nope." Alex responded with a grin. "He wants you there by Monday morning. Sooner if possible." "Well, I'll be…" A slow smile claimed Steve's lips. "What exactly is his plan?" "I think he has a few ideas that he actually wants to discuss with you." Alex explained. "He said he wanted to strategize for maximum impact." Steve began to chuckle. "Wow. She must be…" "Very special." Alex finished for his friend before sobering slightly. "Listen, Steve, Max is serious about this one so uh…no mention of McKenna just yet." Steve grew equally serious. "Right. Any progress on that front?" "Kyle's still working different angles, but she's really making it hard." "Yeah, Duke wasn’t really able to give us much since she's pretty tight lipped about her missions. Especially to the guys she sleeps with." Alex let out a sigh. "Yeah, I am definitely not looking forward to telling Max any of this." "I don’t blame you." Steve agreed. "Have you and Kyle discussed exactly how and when?" "Not details. We think we need paper proof before we really go to Max with it. He probably won't believe it unless we do." "Sounds right." Steve nodded and let out a sigh. "Well, I'll try to feel him out a bit when I'm with him. See exactly where he is on the whole issue." "Man, that would be great." Alex sounded relieved. "Last I mentioned it to him, he didn't want to talk about it. Says he's finally moving on and wants to put it in the past." "Too bad it can't stay there." Steve commented prophetically. "Yeah." Alex's quiet tone was one of regret and contemplation. "I'm really feeling for Liz right now because she thinks McKenna's this paragon of virtue that Max will go back to at the drop of hat once he knows she's alive." "Liz knows about this?" The surprise was evident in Steve's voice. "Yeah, she knows. She's vowed to keep it secret…" "You think she can be trusted?" Alex smiled. "On this…definitely." "What makes you so sure?" "She is way too stubborn to admit this, even to herself, but that woman in head over heels in love with Max. Despite all of her protests and best intentions, the last thing she wants to do is push him into the arms of another woman." Alex explained patient, wisely. "She'll take this secret to the grave with her if it means keeping Max by her side." Steve began to grin. "Stubborn, huh? Sounds like a perfect match for Max…" "You have no idea." Alex answered back with a chuckle. "In fact, let me fill you in a little bit on little Lizzie Parker…" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Carmen." "Oh, hey, Max. Did any of the names on the list look familiar to you?" "Not yet." Max answered with a shake of his head. "But keep them coming ok? I've got a strong feeling I know this woman. I just can't put my finger on how." "You got it. I'm also trying to track her most recent movements. Like where was she before she turned up at your office. I have to give it to her, whoever she is she's either very talented at covering her tracks or she has well placed connections that do it for her." Carmen answered confidently. "Do you want me follow up with the Kyle connection?" "Definitely. I want to know what's going on before I approach him about it." Scribbling a few notes on her notepad, Carmen nodded. "Alright. Anything else you want me to check out?" "Actually…yes." Max answered though he sounded a bit hesitant. Despite his earlier determination that resulted in his blowing up at Barbara and immediately enlisting Emily's help, Max had begun to feel a bit unsure of his current plans for Parker Industries, and in turn, Jeff Parker. "I uh…well, I want you to check out a business rival for me." "Wait, Max. You know I don't do corporate stuff." "No, it's not that." Max hastened to reassure. "This is definitely along the personal line. I want to have Jeff Parker and Chris Santoro investigated. I need to know if there were any connections between the two." "Well, I can already tell you about that. Hang on a sec." Carmen commented before pulling out a folder from her cabinets. Finding what she was looking for, Carmen flipped through the folder in silence a moment. "Ah, here it is. Chris was married to Jeff's youngest daughter, Liz." "Right, I know about that." Max commented trying to keep his tone light. Trying not to reveal just how much he did know. How important the information was to him. "I guess what I’m looking for…I heard the marriage was pretty…rough. That Liz turned on Chris, ended up dying because of it." Max shifted uncomfortably in his seat and asked the question that was burning in his mind. "What I want to know is…did Jeff know how bad it was for his daughter. And if he did, did he do anything to help her?" There was silence on the other end and by Carmen's next question, Max could tell he'd failed to cover his emotions. "What little information I have on the Parker/Santoro marriage, I had to beg, borrow and steal. This stuff is so classified it's not even funny. So, I guess what I need to know from you is…where is this going, Max?" Max swallowed hard, his gaze shifting to the blue sky peacefully blanketing the sky. "It's going toward my next step in a very delicate, possibly dangerous game. I need to know if Jeff Parker is the kind of man who would his sell his daughter to the highest bidder with little to no concern about her well being. Or if he honestly didn't know what nightmare she was marrying into. If he cared enough to help her or if she even asked." "And knowing this will help you decide what to do?" Carmen asked curiously. "Knowing this will explain a lot of things and yes…it will help me know which step to take next." Max answered honestly. "Because right now…well, I'm just not sure." "Alright. I'll get you what I can." Carmen answered, seemingly clear on her mission. "Anything else?" Max thought a moment as he let out a deep sigh. "No, I think that will cover it for a while. Just really concentrate on the Kim Edwards thing. Something's just not right there and I need to know what it is." "You got it, boss..." Carmen confirmed before signing off. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Hmmmm." Liz scrutinized the resume in her hands and glanced back up at the candidate Stacie, the receptionist, had hooked her up with. "This all looks very good. But I do have a few more personal questions to ask you." A head was nodded, an indication of acquiescence. Liz's dark inquiring eyes met the candidate's with frankness. "How do you feel about office romances?" A wry smile touched the lips. "Well, I've never had personal experience with that particular problem." "Right." Liz nodded quickly picking up on the use of the word 'problem'. "But you do see it as a hindrance to the efficiency of an office environment, correct?" "Oh, it definitely can be." "Good." Liz responded with a small victorious smile. "And do you have a problem working for say…a womanizing, philandering, flirtatious Neanderthal who seems to think women were put on this earth for his own personal pleasure?" "Well, it certainly wouldn't be the first time." There was a paused before the answer was expanded. "You see, I think all creatures are here for God's pleasure. Not man's. Not everyone shares my view." "And you'd be willing to tell him that?" Liz asked as her eyes began to dance with triumph. "If the subject were to arise, yes. I am no stranger to speaking my mind." "Perfect." Liz beamed before one more thought hit her. "Oh, one more thing. About office attire…" "What you see is what you get." Letting out a relieved, victorious sigh, Liz stood and held out her hand. "Well, then. I don't think I need to look any further. If you want the job, it's yours." Her hand was taken and a deal was made. "When do you want me?" "Can you be there at noon today?" Another nod of the head. Another beaming smile. "Great! Now. Let's talk about the interview with your new boss. His name is Max Evans…" Another Liz-induced nightmare had begun… ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Max spent the rest of the next hour pacing in his office. And if he wasn't pacing he was shifting restlessly in his chair. Or flipping through documents on his computer and aimlessly looking over contracts he couldn't care less about. Barbara's words kept haunting him. Her certainty that Liz would be firmly against his plans…well, he had to admit it was a bit unnerving. He really needed some advice. He needed some peace. He needed… Max grabbed up his phone and dialed a familiar number. When the phone was answered, Max immediately jumped into the purpose for his call. "Hey, dad. Is Jaedan there?" "Hi, son. Yeah, I think Angel's trying to get her ready for a nap." There was a pause. "Max, what's wrong?" Max immediately bristled. "I just said 'hey'. What makes you think something's wrong?" "You want to listen to yourself say that again then ask me one more time?" Phillip cocked an eyebrow at Max's defensive response. "Look, dad, I'm sorry. I just…" Max let out a weary sigh. "…I got in a fight with Barbara about something and I have something else that's just really bothering me and…" "Liz?" Phillip prompted hoping his son would elaborate more. That one name brought the first smile to Max's face in the past hour. "No, dad, it's not Liz. She's actually the brightest part of my day right now so…" "Giving you hell, isn't she?" Phillip easily translated for Max. Max began to chuckle. "Yeah. Yeah, she's certainly not making things easy for me. But that was expected so, I'm not too surprised. I'm actually enjoying the challenging curves she's been throwing me." "As long as you know what to expect and don't take her resistance personally." Phillip cautioned. "I'm not." Max answered softly. "I don't expect this to be an overnight success. But I'm willing to stick it out and have fun in the process." "Well, good." Phillip nodded with pride in his son's mature attitude. "Now, was there a little princess you wanted to talk to?" A slow grin began on Max's face again. "Yeah. I think she's just what I need right now." "I can see why you're so taken with her, Max." Phillip commented quietly. "She's a real doll. Mom already adores her and well…I think she wrapped me around her finger before she got a full sentence out." "Yeah, she is definitely a sweetheart. Very much like her mom." Max responded with a smile full of love. "Well, here she is…" Before Phillip even finished his sentence, Max was accosted by the tiny, excited voice. "Oh, yay! Max! I's so excited! I's been wantin' to talk to ya aallll day! Cuz guess why! Guess what I got to do?" "What did you get to do?" As the childish voice prattled on, Max leaned back with a smile and allowed the peace that had been alluding him since Liz's departure to instantly seep back into his soul. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I'm telling you, Vaughn, this is a good plan." Liz spoke into her cell phone quietly as she walked toward her office building. "Liz, I don't know…" "Look. This is…sooo amazingly perfect." Beaming brighter than the California sun, Liz paused a moment to take a deep breath of air. "Today is just…" Eyes drifting closed, Liz's face split into a joyous smile. "…isn't today just the best day ever?" "Liz. You've either completely lost it..." Sitting behind his desk at the CIA headquarters, Vaughn shook his head. "…or you're in love." Liz gasped into the phone. "You take that back right now, Michael Vaughn." Vaughn chuckled. "Well? Do you have any other explanation for that beaming smile plastered on your face? You know…the one I know you're sporting because I can feel it all the way through the phone?" "Yes, as a matter of fact, I do." Liz nodded curtly. "It's called the sweet joy of victory." "Victory." Vaughn repeated. "Liz. You ever heard that expression 'Don't count your chickens before they hatch'?" "Ha-ha." Liz's mocking laughter caused Vaughn to chuckle again. "You think I can't do this. You think Max Evans can get the better of me. Well, I'll tell you something right now, Michael Vaughn…the assistant I chose for Max is so heavenly good that he's going to be in hell for the next few weeks. And **that* my friend, you can take to the bank…" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Liz returned to a call in progress… "You did, huh?" Max asked as he started glancing through papers on his desk. The childish voice echoed through the speaker phone on Max’s desk. "Uh-huh. And then Nanna and Pappa took me to see the horses and I got to peted one!" "Yeah? Which one did you pet?" "Drweam." "Oh, Dream's a pretty horse." Max grinned. "I'll bet you'd like Fancy too." "Uh-huh. Pappa showed me a picture cuz he said Fancy was at a horsey show but one day when me and Grandnanny come visit again maybe I can peted her too! And tamarra I get to try to ride Drweam with Pappa. Not all by myse’f. I fafta have a adult wiff me.” "That's only because we don't want you to fall and hurt yourself." Max explained patiently at the slight note of annoyance in Jaedan's voice. "Pappa loves riding horses. You're going to have a great time, sweetheart." "Uh-huh. And Nanna and me and Grandnanny are gonna make pumpkin faces…" "You are? Are they going to be funny or scary?" Hearing the door crack open, Max glanced up to see Liz framed in the doorway. His heart instantly sped up at the sight of her. Hair slightly wind blown and face flushed with emotion, he was struck once again with just how beautiful she was. The most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. Liz's beauty wasn't just surface. She had a light inside of her that, when it was lit, not another woman on the face of the earth could hold a candle to her. That light was shining brightly now. In her smile. Through her dark, dancing eyes glowing with so much love, it took his breath away. Liz's heart was in her throat. Watching this man, hearing a few snatched pieces of conversation, sent a ripple of warmth straight through to Liz's thundering heart. It would be impossible to believe if she wasn't seeing it with her own eyes. If she didn't know him better. If she hadn't felt the goodness and love in him. Her baby's excited voice was filling the room and Max was…listening. He was actually paying attention to each little word she said. He was responding to her childish exuberance. Encouraging her to express herself. And he was loving her, accepting her, just the way she was. Max was doing for a lonely child that wasn't his own so much more than Jeff Parker, her very own, flesh and blood father, had ever done for her. He was listening. He was caring. He was loving… One thing was glaringly clear. Despite how he did or did not feel about Liz Parker, he hadn't been lying when he told her he adored Jaedan. And Jaedan adored him right back. And Liz Parker felt like…an outsider. Until… Max's face split into a grin and he waved Liz into the office encouragingly. Her eyes softened as she took a step inside and closed the door firmly behind her. Motioning for Liz to pull up a chair, he cautioned her to silence by placing a finger against his lips. With a wink to Liz, he addressed Jaedan with a question that immediately created a groan from the speaker on the desk. "Honey, isn't it about time for your nap?" "I shouldn’t oughta hafta take a nap." The pout in her voice was as clear as a bell. Max had to bite back a chuckle as the image of Jaedan crossing her arms in front of her and stamping her foot flitted through his mind. His laughing eyes met Liz's and they shared a smile as Jaedan continued. "Cuz I’m a big girl now. I rwode weally weally good on your big boat. I didn’t crwy or nofin’!" "I know you did, sweetie. Grandnanny told me how good and brave you were. And you are such a big girl. But even big girls have to take naps because if you don't all of the sleep fairies will be sad because they won't get to spend any time with you. So, I'll tell you what…" Max paused and leaned back in his chair with a grin. "…if you'll be a very, very good princess and go upstairs right now and lay down on your bed, I have a surprise for you." "You do?" "Yes. A very special surprise." Max confirmed as he smiled at Liz. "You can get Grandnanny to help you with the phone in your room, ok?" "'Kay!" In a heartbeat, Max and Liz could hear Jaedan's voice in the distance excitedly exclaiming that she just had to take her nap now because she needed to visit with the sleep fairies and because if she didn't she wouldn't get her surprise. Angel's chuckling voice came on the phone. "Max, you deserve the medal of the year for the most creative ways for getting that child to obey." "Oh he does, huh?" Liz finally broke her silence long enough to let Angel know she was listening too. They could hear the smile in Angel's voice. "Ohhh, so that's the surprise. You know I'm not sure this is such a good idea." "Why not?" Max asked, his brows furrowing in sudden concern. "You honestly think she'll be able to sleep once she's talked to her two favorite people in the whole world? She'll be way too excited…" There was a second of silence in which Angel was clearly trying to hear something in the distance. "Alright, alright. I’m coming with the phone." Sighing back into the phone, Angel's comment prompted a playful comment from Liz. "Max, you're creating a monster here…" "You think he's turning Jaedan into a monster?" Liz rolled her eyes playfully and tossed a grin meaningful Max's way. "You should have seen the harem he paraded in front of me today." Liz shuddered dramatically as her face scrunched up in disgust. "Downright horrifying." "Hey!" Max attempted to sound offended but couldn't help the chuckle in his voice as he pelted Liz with a wad of paper. He pointed an authoritative finger at her. "I'll have you know every last one of those ladies was a highly trained individual." "Oh, yeah? Where were they trained?" Giving him a pointed look, Liz grabbed a loose rubber band for any retaliation that might be necessary. "Bimbos 'R Us? Or Skimpy's: the Modeling Agency for the Truly Clueless?" Liz's eyes brightened with an idea and she nearly bounced in her seat with excitement. "Ohhh. Or how about this…Multitasking Unlimited: Skilled in the art of primping, blowing bubbles and filing nails all at the same time. Zero IQ required. Special discounts for students named after Disney animals…" A burst of laughter filled the room. Adoring eyes rolled as he tried to shake his head in mock disapproval. He didn’t succeed. "You are so…" Max started to respond but was cut off by a voice from the speaker phone. "Alright you two. Straighten up." Angel commanded, effectively ending the verbal sparring going on hundreds of miles away. "I'm heading in to her room. So, here we go…" Sticking her tongue out playfully, Liz scrunched up her nose at Max and he shook his head with a chuckle as a few moments of silence reigned in the office while Angel was apparently setting up the phone for Jaedan. Before they knew it, Jaedan's excited voice once again filled the space between them connecting them in ways neither had expected. "Kay, Max! I's back! And I got Boo Boo Bear and we's ready for your surprise now!" "Alright, princess. Who is your most favorite person in the whole entire wide world?" "Kendall." Liz's face began to glow as a smile spread over her lips at her daughter's instant answer. No hesitation. No question. Simple, honest, childlike clarity. "That's right." Max answered, his gaze never leaving Liz's face. He loved watching her expressions shift with the speed of lighting. From playful to touched to awed, her expression softened with such beauty Max longed to reach out and caress her skin with infinite gentleness. His fingers curled around the arms of his chair to prevent him from acting on that or any other impulses. "And who did I promise to find for you?" "Kendall." Jaedan answered just a quickly as before. This time adding a few other promises he'd made. Promises that caused Liz's softened gaze to meet his. "And you prwomised I could see her again and I did. And you pwromised to make sure she didn't get losted no more. And you prwomised to make her happy so she have a whole lots of cowendar days full of princesses and not evil bad wizards!" A faint blush spread over Max's cheeks as he shifted a bit uncomfortably in his chair. Note to self: teach Jaedan not to talk so much on speaker phone… His gaze lowered shyly and he quickly cleared his throat in an attempt to ward off the revelation of any other promises concerning Liz that he might have made. "That's right, sweetie. Well, guess what?" "What?" The breathlessly awed voice fell silent. With an approving wink, Max grinned at Liz and nodded, his eyes dancing with sincere delight. Liz leaned forward toward the speaker. "Hi, sweetheart." The gasp echoed in the room. "Kendall!!! Grandnanny, it's Kendall! I just gots to see ya yesterday and I's didn't fink I could talk to ya till we got back from Nanna and Pappas cuz I's didn't fink you'd know where we's was!" Liz laughed at the tumble of excited words, her dancing gaze meeting Max's across the desk. "Yeah, well…your Mr. Prince Charming kinda figured out a way for us to talk early." "YAY!" Realizing the need to control the situation before childish exuberance reached fever pitched heights, Max quickly stepped in. "Alright now, honey. Since it is naptime I think what we need to do is make up a fairy tale together and then right after that, you'll be a very, very good princess and lay down for Grandnanny, Nanna and Pappa. Right?" Max paused as a doubtful gaze met Liz's and he raised his fingers in the air, crossing them in hope. "Think you can do that for Kendall and me?" "I's try weally, weally hard." Max and Liz's gazes instantly locked on each other and shook their heads as they simultaneously mouthed the words 'It won't work'. Liz covered her mouth to stop the giggle bubbling up inside of her. Max bit down on his lip to keep back his own chuckle before continuing. "Ok, sweetie. Let's see…what should we name our princess today?" “Kendall.” Noting Liz's softened gaze, Max winked at her. “You always name our princess Kendall.” “That’s cuz I wuv her.” "Oh, honey…" Liz pushed her bottom lip out in an adorable expression which was a cross between an 'isn't-she-so-sweet-I-think-I-want-to-cry' and a pretty pout. "…I love you too." “You know, I think with all this love between all of us, we should be able to come up with a really good happily ever after together. Don’t you?” Max's voice lowered meaningfully, his own gaze unashamedly roaming Liz's face as the double meaning of his words gently whispered their way into Liz's heart. It was a struggle not to add his own out right confession of love. But now was neither the time nor the place. Still…with the way Liz's chest just hitched with a stilled breath when bright her gaze met his, he doubted he really had to say the words for her to get the message anyway. Liz felt a heat rising in her cheeks. She felt the smile tugging at her lips. Knew instinctively that her eyes were bright with inescapable stars. A surge of emotion washed over her. She didn't recognize it. Couldn't name the feeling. Didn't know how to label it. How was it possible to feel this way with just one word from him? How was it possible to feel this way at all? Hadn't someone somewhere declared it eternally forbidden for Liz Parker to be…happy? To feel…good? Is that what she was suddenly feeling? Or was it something so much more? Something…lasting. She bit down on her lower lip and pushed a strand of hair out of her eyes as the warring thoughts drifted briefly through her mind. Max was watching her. Reading her expression. Sensing her confusion. She was feeling things she couldn't explain and it was scaring her. Unnerving her. Freedom often does. If you're not expecting it. If you don't believe you deserve it. Sensing Liz getting lost in dangerous thought, Max swiftly shifted gears back to Jaedan's story and cleared his throat. “Since Kendall's actually with us today, why don't we make up a fairy tale about our other princess? Sweetie, you want to tell Kendall what her name is and why we picked her?" "Uh-huh!" Jaedan answered enthusiastically. "We's got a Princess Kendall and a Princess Liz. Liz cuz that's short for 'liz'beth and that's my middle name." Panic raced through Liz. Eyes narrowing slightly, her gaze snapped up to Max's face. His expression was relaxed, unreadable. Innocent. Though the use of her real name as a princess could be indication he knew so much more than he was letting on, Liz doubted it. At least, she tried to doubt it. Still, he truly seemed focused on Jaedan and using her middle name…well, that did make sense… "That's right, sweetie. So, Liz is our princess today, and who is our prince?” “Uh…how ‘bout…” “Maximus.” Liz stated, her lips twitching with the beginning of a smile. Max's eyes snapped up to meet hers in remembrance. "Oh, no you don't." "What?" Batting her eyes innocently, a devilish smile danced on her lips. "You know full well what." Max responded with a 'don’t you dare' look in his eyes as the conversation of his boyhood nickname came rushing back to him. Liz grinned. Then played her trump card. "Jaedan, sweetheart. Don't you think Maximus would be a peeeerfect name for our prince?" "YAY!!!!" Max let out a groan and sank back into his chair. Though his protest was loud and exaggerated, he couldn't keep a light of amusement from his eyes as he gazed at Liz. He even bit down on his lip to keep his smile in check. Again, he wasn't successful. Liz chuckled and did a little 'dance' in her seat knowing she had effectively won another point for the day. Letting out a sigh, she leaned forward and began speaking directly to Jaedan. "Ok, honey. How do we start our story?" "Uh…well…Max always starts with 'Once upon a time…" And together, the three of them made up a tale to remember… tbc… [ edited 2time(s), last at 23-Jun-2002 12:57:21 PM ] |
| posted on 2-Jul-2002 5:53:43 AM by Ashton |
| Hey all,
Sorry I've been MIA. An unexpected opportunity came up and I've been in the process of moving from one place to the next. Hence no computer, no disks, no updates. As soon as I get settled back in I'll be back to writing. The next chpt has quite a bit done already, i just need to find the disk I have it on! Thanks for the encouragement and patience! BehrHugs, Ashton |
| posted on 5-Jul-2002 10:01:18 PM by Ashton |
| hey all!!
Sooo sorry its taken so long to get back on this. I'm totally moved now, but now comes the agonizing process of figuring out where everything is! I've already moved the computer 3 times!! Anyway...this is pretty much ALL fluff and probalby not all that great but at least it's done! ;) Hope ya'll enjoy. Thanks sooo much for the support and I'd love to hear what you think!
BehrHugs, Ashton ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ chapter 12 ~ An hour later, Liz was still grinning. So was Max. Though the call with Jaedan had ended long ago, secret smiles and amused glances filled the room with a sense of intimacy that hadn't been there before. Through the shared love of one little girl, an emotional connection had been formed. They didn't talk about it. They just…felt it. And what they felt…made them both smile like silly fools. Biting down on her lip to keep back a chuckle, Liz cleared her throat and glanced up at Max, whose golden eyes had just cast her a sly glance. His gaze lowered instantly the second she looked up, a slight tremor racing through his lips as he tried his best not to smile. Liz felt her heart start to pound. His suit jacket having been discarded, Max's tie was loose and the top couple of buttons of his crisp white shirt were undone. He'd run his hands through his hair several times causing dark strands to fall haphazardly over his forehead giving him a slightly mussed, casual look. A downright sexy look. Gaze lowering shyly, Liz tilted her head to the side and tried to focus on the notepad she was supposed to be making a list on. Instead, a picture was taking shape as her pencil unconsciously flew across the page. Outlining features. Softening gazes. Curling the corners of a perfect mouth. Having pulled her hair up into a messy bun on the top of her head, a few strands were falling gently against the soft curves of her face. Her eyes were bright while a soft blush covered her cheeks. Max couldn't stop himself from stealing glances at her. She was… Max couldn't quite come up with the word to accurately describe exactly what Liz Parker was. No matter how hard he tried. No matter how large his vocabulary. A thousand adjectives popped into his mind. Each covert glance discarded every single one. 'Pretty' wasn't strong enough. 'Beautiful' was too common. 'Gorgeous' didn't quite fit, though she certainly was. 'Attractive' was too lame. 'Angelic' definitely didn't capture the deliciously devilish side of Liz Parker. 'Exquisite'. Now, there was a word that Max could get behind in describing Liz. She **was** exquisite. Rare. Timeless. Classic. An unconscious sigh escaped him and before he realized it, Max found himself staring at Liz. Again. Outright. Unashamedly. Like a fool. Shaking himself from the embarrassing action that was quickly becoming a habit, Max forced his gaze to remain focused on the contracts on his desk. Aloof. Approachable, but aloof. That's what he was going for. And so far…well, he'd been failing miserably. In fact, if he didn't watch it, his whole plan would crumble before it even got underway. In theory, it was a good plan. No pressure. No strings. No commitments. Keep it fun and light. Be patient. Be her friend. Lull her into a false sense of security by giving her plenty of freedom and space to fall in love with him…or admit she already was, all the while showing no expectation that she would do so. Stay put. Prove he was reliable through good and bad times. That she could trust him. Ease into Liz Parker's heart in such a way that she wouldn’t see it coming and once he was so deeply imbedded, she'd never be able to let him go. In practice… Well, he never imagined just how hard this loving Liz from a distant closeness was actually going to be. Or how irresistible she'd prove to be the more time he spent with her. How everything about her just thoroughly…delighted him. Even her stubborn streaks. No…especially those. But it was the way she was with Jaedan that was so mesmerizing. The priceless connection between mother and daughter was palpable even through a long distance phone call. Max could only imagine what it would finally be like to watch them interact in person. When all walls had been destroyed and all lies had been revealed. When hiding was no longer necessary. It was a future Max Evans wouldn’t stop dreaming of until it became a reality. No matter how much resistance Liz Parker gave him. As Max's thoughts turned toward the daunting task facing him in his pursuit of Liz, she was becoming aware of the picture forming on the notepad beneath her skilled pencil. It was a scene from the previous day. In Max’s magical garden. With her precious daughter. They had been exploring the hidden paths through lush shrubbery and twisting trees. Coming to a small clearing, Jaedan had grabbed both of Liz’s hands and begged her to play ‘Ring Around the Rosy’. Spinning round and round, Liz and Jaedan slipped into a crumpled heap of giggles as they ‘all fell down’. Taking a moment to catch their breaths, Jaedan noticed for the first time that the ceiling was made of glass. “Ohhh, lookie, Kendall! Prwetty clouds!” She’d exclaimed excitedly. “Let’s make a pi’ture!” “A picture?” Liz inquired as she shifted to her back and put an arm behind her head. Jaedan snuggled up to Liz and pointed to the sky. “Uh-huh. Me and Max make pi’tures aaaaalll the time.” “You do, huh?” Liz asked as she began to smile, a note of challenge in her voice. “Well, then. I guess if Mr. Oh-So-Wonderful Max can make pictures with you, so can I…” The result was staring up at her from her notepad. A woman and a child lying on the ground under the protective leaves of an overhanging tree. A sky full of clouds staring down at them. And if one looked closely enough, one could see the outline of a crown. The features of a face. The image of a prince who looked very much like Max Evans… Liz glanced back up at Max again, her eyes roaming his face. The smooth planes. The full lips. The exquisite eyes. The likeness couldn’t have been any more perfect. Focus irresistibly drawn to his lips, Liz let out a tiny sigh. What those lips could do to her… His knowing smirks were infuriating. His tender smiles warmed her from the inside out and made her stomach do a funny little dance that was not altogether unpleasing. The words that flowed so easily from those lips could stop her speech cold and bring tears to her eyes or make her feel like she was soaring on a cloud of laughter. With lightning speed, a whisper from those lips could send a shiver racing through her. Speaking of shivers, there was always her favorite use for Max Evans' lips…those amazing kisses of his. They had the power to transport her into an entirely different world altogether. One she'd never even knew existed until that very first touch. One she'd like to explore to the fullest and maybe even risk staking her own permanent claim. Whether gentle and feathery or demanding and explosive, Max's kisses were full of passion. Intense. Focused. And oh, so very captivating. Bewitching. Fascinating. Mesmerizing. Max's eyes. Chocolate brown at times, an amber fire could rip through them in a heartbeat. Inky midnight skies dotted with the brightest stars couldn't possibly rival the brilliance of Max's passion-filled eyes. Or the emotion that could soften them in the space of a breath. And when he was amused…the way they crinkled a little at the corners and literally danced like sunbeams on a sparkling lake. Just like they were dancing right now… Liz caught herself just in time to stop a dreamy sigh. He was just so…damn irresistible. Biting back a grin, Liz cleared her throat and finally broke their comfortable, intimate silence with a flat-toned attempted insult. "You're unbelievable." Liz commented as she firmly fixed her gaze on the notepad in front of her and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. An eyebrow raised in response. Max added a few last letters to the end of a sentence while responding with a smooth, unperturbed tone. "You know you keep saying that, but it seems to me that Jaedan believed just about everything I said." A hint of pride and satisfaction edged the smile haunting his lips. Biting the eraser on the tip of her pencil to keep the amusement dancing in her eyes from making it to her voice, Liz cocked an eyebrow before flipping to a new page and labeling a column on a list she should have started an hour ago. "That's because she is a little five year old girl who can't tell the difference between fact and fiction." "Oh, I see." Dotting an 'I' and crossing a 't' before signing his name to a contract with a flourish, Max glanced up at Liz. "And are you trying to tell me that what I told her didn’t happen?" Liz met his gaze with challenge. "Not the way you told her." "Well, of course not." Max gave her a clear 'duh' look. "I mean, what was I supposed to say? Jaedan, sweetheart, your mommy is the best saboteur in the entire world. She attacked me with equipment that seriously makes me question what kind of lessons she took in school because she obviously wasn't studying history and math." Pursing his lips, Max shook his head as if in thought. "No. See, that's just not going to work." Laying his pen down, he casually folded his hands and leaned back in his chair. "First we have the issue of her not knowing you are, in fact, her mother." Liz raised an acknowledging finger. "That's only because of…" "National security." Max stated simultaneously. A smile haunted his lips as laughter danced behind his eyes. "Right. Because of Mark…" Liz glanced away uncomfortably, wetted her lips and cleared her throat. Max held back a grin and debated for a split second if he should pounce on that particularly sore subject or let it pass for the moment. He continued. "National security aside, we also have the whole issue of actually explaining to her why you, her precious Kendall, would want to do so many bad things to her adored Mr. Prince Charming." Max paused to let out an exaggerated, arrogant sigh. "I have to be honest with you…I really don't think she'd like that." "Well, of course not." Liz rolled her eyes. It was her turn to give him the 'duh' look. "You made Princess Liz into a complete shrew." "Yeah, well…I had a good model to draw from." Max quipped back quickly. Liz's loud gasp prompted a chuckle from Max. Until she pelted him with a wad of paper. The smile instantly disappeared from his lips. Knowing full well Liz wouldn't be able to resist, Max leveled a warning challenge. "You sooo do not want to start that particular war with me." "I don't huh?" Liz eyes sparkled with a devilish smile. "No. You reeeeally don't." "Why not?" A grin began to light her eyes as if a new thought struck her. "Ohhh. Is this one of your games with Bambi during playtime?" "Games?" "Uh-huh. You know…" Liz pursed her lips into a pretty pout and batted her lashes innocently as she tried her best to mimic a brainless brunette she'd met earlier. Her breathy voice was almost perfect Bambi-pitched. "…you're the mighty hunter, the paper wads are your speedy bullets and Bambi tries to not get hit as she scampers brainlessly here and there in skimpy little outfits that wouldn't cover a flea." Dropping all pretense, Liz shrugged her voice barely concealing her distaste. "At least that's how I assume it goes since it's glaringly obvious Bambi wouldn’t be able to actually think her way out of a wet paper bag let alone a full scale paper wad fight." "Oh, Kendall..." Max's predatory grin caused his eyes to darken dangerously as they raked over her suggestively. His voice lowered to a seductive huskiness. "You seriously underestimate my creativity when it comes to games and playtime." "Yeah?" Liz's voice mirrored his as she leaned forward, her devilish gaze roaming his face before locking with a challenge on his eyes. "Care to prove that?" It took everything in him to remain outwardly unaffected by that glow in her eyes. To remain in his seat. To keep his voice controlled and his body from acting out every urge ripping through him. He seriously had to get hold of himself if he was ever going to pull this off. Donning a cloak of indifference, Max drew on past experiences where his poker face brought down the staunchest of enemies. Never before had the stakes been so high. The unreadable mask slipped into place. His eyes held the barest hint of apology but his tone was all business. "Sorry. In case you haven't noticed, this…" Max indicated the room they were in. "…is an office. Which implies this is a business. And business is something I take very seriously." Max shrugged. "I simply don't play games while on corporate time." Liz's mouth opened in disbelief as Max studiously turned his attention back to the contracts on his desk. A momentary feeling of embarrassed rejection raced through her as she watched him return to his work as if she were nothing more than a fly on the wall. There was that damn politeness of his again. That…aloofness that kept her at arm's length. She felt a lump rise in her throat. Until… Her uncomprehending stare landed again on his lips. Though his gaze was steadfastly focused on the task in front of him, the barest smirk of triumph ghosted his lips. Liz's dark eyebrow raised in understanding. If that was how he wanted to play, then that's how they'd play… "Fine." Liz commented flippantly as she shifted back into her seat. "Fine." Max responded barely glancing up at her. "Let's get to work then." Eyes never leaving Max's face, Liz deliberately hardened her voice. Voice registering his apparent lack of attention to her, Max began scanning figures on his computer screen. "Already ahead of you…" Reading him like a book, Liz hid a grin as a plan instantly formed… For the next ten minutes, the silence of the room was interrupted only by the steady ticking of the clock. And Liz's bouncing pen. The more it bounced, the more Max shifted restlessly in his seat. The more his face scrunched up in attempted concentration. The more annoyance flashed in his eyes when he'd occasionally glance up at her. Liz was aware of every changing nuance. She would pause, and Max would let out an unconscious sigh, settle into reading again and relax in his seat. The bouncing resumed. Max finally put his pen down, sighed and looked up at her his annoyed frown turning up into a boyish grin when he saw her relaxed position. Liz had her legs propped up under her and had her head leaned back against her chair rest. Her eyes had just drifted closed in concentration and a knowing, devilish smile haunted her lips. Max's eyes suddenly began to twinkle with mischief. He quickly went to work on a surprise attack. Thoughts were running through Liz's head a mile a minute. Actually, it was more like a tune that was tapping out an upbeat yet haunting Latin dance. A tune she'd never heard before. One without words. One that flowed through her fingers into the pen relentlessly pounding out a beat. One that moved her. Inspired her… Liz was just getting ready to open her eyes to grab a piece of paper and quickly jot down the notes floating through her mind when suddenly she felt herself being pelted with something crinkly and hard. "Hey!" She yelled suddenly as she jolted upright surprised by the sudden attack. "Just what do you think you're doing?" She asked in mock irritation the beginning of a smile twitching at the corners of her mouth. Max turned back to his papers quickly trying to hide the grin that had surfaced when he saw the cute annoyed look on her face as he attempted to put a level of irritation in his voice. "Either wake up and start working or go to sleep and stop that irritating noise." A mischievous grin broke out on Liz's face. Her plan had worked. "What noise?" She glanced down at her pen then held it up in front of her. "Oh, you must mean *this* noise." She exclaimed as she began clicking it fervently in a teasing effort to annoy him. Noticing how Max twitched with each click, Liz got up from her chair and slowly advanced toward him, clicking the pen at least three times with each step. "You know, I never realized a pen could do so many things. I mean, it writes...it clicks. And then it clicks again. Over and over and over...just like the Energizer bunny. It never stops." Knowing she would take the bait he'd dangled in front of her, Max waited until she was almost to him before turning on her and bombarding her with stored up paper wads that he had hidden behind his back. Liz let out a scream and put up her hands to ward off his attack. She turned around and ducked as she started grabbing paper of her own and quickly began flinging them back at him. Before they knew it a full-scale wad throwing war was in place. Max ducked down behind the desk as Liz cowered behind the chair occasionally popping their heads up to launch new and used ammunition. Each claiming victory as every target was nailed, Max and Liz had begun laughing so hard they were having a hard time keeping up the pace. A sudden thud and "Ow!" caused Max to pop his head up once more. "Kendall? Hey, are you ok?" Concern edged his voice. "I think so..." Her muffled reply came back to him. "What did you do?" Max asked as he quickly dropped everything and rushed to where she was stationed behind her chair. Coming around the chair he saw her lying on the floor face down. "Well, I...." Liz quickly flipped over, pointed a water gun that had been hidden under her desk at Max and began shooting. "....gotcha!!" "You are going to pay for that!" Max proclaimed amidst his laughter and his attempt to block the water shooting straight toward him. He made a sudden move that place him on the floor almost on top of Liz as he grabbed her hands and tried wrenching the gun away from her. She made a valiant effort, but Max finally grabbed the gun and turned it on her spraying her a few times before she was able to knock it loose from his grip. Squirming beneath him trying to get away from the sprays, Liz was laughing so hard it made it almost impossible to fight him. "Now who's got who, huh?" Max asked as he discarded the gun and began to tickle her. Giggling uncontrollably and gasping for air, she couldn't answer him. Tears were beginning to stream from the corner of her eyes as she continued to fight the losing battle. Neither saw the door open. Neither heard the footsteps approaching. Neither noticed the black robed figure standing near their feet, clearing their throat. Until… "Yes! I just won a hundred smackeroos!" At the sound of the victorious shout, Max and Liz abruptly stopped their war. Max whipped his head around to see Gabe's fair, excited face flushed with triumph staring over the shoulder of… Eyes widening, Max's mouth opened in surprise. "Holy sh…" Liz clamped her hand over Max's mouth effectively shoving back the curse he'd begun to utter. Stifling a giggle, Liz's beaming smile greeted their visitor. "So, I see you found us." A withering gaze swept over Max as he remained in full body contact with Liz, frozen by a host of memories. "I have." She gave Max a knowing look. "And apparently some things never change…" Making no attempt to move from under Max, Liz nodded toward him. "I know Max being your new boss will be a bit of a switch for the two of you." Gaze shifting to Max's still stunned face, Liz could barely contain her pleasure at Max's growing unease as she watched his face grow paler with each word she spoke. "Max, this is a nun over at Our Lady of Perpetual Hope and…she's going to be your new assistant. Her name is Sister Mary Margaret, but…from what I hear…you already know that..." Tbc… |
| posted on 20-Jul-2002 10:23:48 AM by Ashton |
| Hey all!
Sorry this took so long to get to you. I've been having issues with my arm hurting so it's kinda hard to type when it does. Anyway, I know this skips ahead a bit, but I will be going back and explaining about the Max/SMM connection. A lot of the next chpt is already done so hopefully it'll be out soon. As always thanks sooo very much for your support! I hope you enjoy!!! PLEASE let me know what you think! I love getting your feedback!!
Hugs, Ashton p.s. if anyone needs back chpts, they can join my egroup at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AMDreamerFanfiction ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ chapter 13 ~ Later that evening… "I can't believe he actually knew the nun." Sydney commented between chuckles. "Oh, I know! A stroke of pure coincidence that is sooo going to work to my advantage." Liz explained, her eyes bright with laughter. "And I'm telling you, Syd…I've never seen anyone move so fast. That is, once he realized he was trapped, of course. He literally jumped away from me like I was a leper or something." The knock on the door interrupted a fit of combined giggles. "I'll get it." Sydney jumped up from her seat on the sofa and headed toward the door tossing Liz a grin over her shoulder. "You know…since you've had **such** a rough day and all." "Hey!" Liz tossed a pillow at Sydney as payback for her last comment. She missed by a mile. There was a moment of hushed tones at the door. Liz tried to recognize the voice of their visitor but it wasn't until seeing Gabe's innocent face that anything registered with her. She instantly sat up straight, concern etching her voice. "Gabe? What are you doing here? Is something wrong?" Rushing forward in his overly dramatic way, Gabe nodded his fair head. "Oh, Rachel. I just…I just can't concentrate on anything since this afternoon. I couldn't eat a bite at dinner. I was so afraid you were mad at me. And I just **had** to explain what happened about the money and the bet and all of that…" "Oh." Liz cast a wary, apprehensive glance in Sydney's direction. That was the one part of the day Liz hadn't bothered to mention to her overly curious roommate. Immediately trying to head off a tidal wave of questions she was sure Sydney would certainly have waiting for her, Liz began to shake her head at Gabe. She waved her hands dismissively in the air. "Really, Gabe, that's…that's not necessary." "Oh, but it is, Rachel." Gabe plopped down on the couch next to Liz, his earnest gaze fixed worriedly on her face. "I just feel so…awful about the whole situation. I mean, you were totally right. None of us have any business prying into your relationship with Max…" "Gabe. Really. That's quite enough." Liz hurriedly cut him off before anything else incriminating could escape. Especially since she saw Sydney's face light up with a bright grin at the mention of Max's name. Seeing the white envelope in his hand, Liz's next statement was a pointed attempt at changing subjects. "Is uh…is that for me?" Gabe looked down at the envelope she indicated. "Oh. Yeah." He handed it to her. "This was put on my desk for you. Not sure who left it." Liz eyed the envelope suspiciously before her gaze snapped back up to Gabe's inquiringly. "You're…not…sure." The tone of her voice was clearly disbelieving. Rolling her eyes, Liz pointed the envelope in the air at Gabe as an accusatory eyebrow raised. "And I'll just bet that's what Max Evans paid you to say, right?" Gabe's innocent gaze became confused. "Mr. Evans? Uh…no. He was still in his…" Liz's eyebrow raised even higher. Gabe cleared his throat and corrected the possessive pronoun. "…**your**…office when it was delivered." Liz's brows furrowed. "He was?" "Yeah. In fact, he'd called me in to ask about the invitee list for the project." Gabe continued to explain. "When I returned to my desk…it was there." Liz began to investigate the envelope a little more closely. The handwriting on the top wasn't Max's. She pursed her lips in thought. "Was anyone else around?" "Nope. I tried to see who might have delivered it. Practically asked the entire office. No one had a clue." Sydney's face split into a grin and her voice lowered tauntingly. "Ohhh, looks like Rache has a secret admirer." "Secret, my foot." Gabe commented with a near snort. "Now that I think about it, he could have always had someone else deliver it. In fact, I'd bet double or nothing my winnings today that it **was** from Mr. Evans." Liz let out an exasperated growl. "Gabe! You did NOT win the bet! There was absolutely **nothing** going on between me and Mr. Evans today!" "Oh, I don't know, Rachel." Sydney piped up at the crestfallen look on Gabe's face. "Apparently something happened to make Gabe here so obviously distressed over the uh…" Turning to Gabe, Sydney placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "…what did you say it was again that you wanted to explain?" "About the bet." "The bet." "Honestly, it's not that big of a…" Liz's hasty interruption wasn't allowed to be completed. "Yeah." Gabe nodded emphatically toward Sydney, glad to have at least one pair of willing ears to talk to. "The one that practically the entire office is involved in." "Really? The entire office?" Sydney grinned at Liz from over Gabe's shoulder. "So, uh…what exactly is this bet? I just might want to get in on it." Casting Liz an uncertain glance, Liz's assistant turned to Sydney and began hesitantly. "Well, you see…there's been a bet going as to how long it would take for Rachel and Max to be uh…well, caught in a…" Gabe's face colored appropriately as he lowered his voice to a hushed whisper. "…compromising position." An eyebrow raised as Sydney's laughing eyes flicked to Liz. "A compromising position?" Letting out an exasperated sigh, Liz rolled her eyes. "Oh for heaven's sake, Gabe. We were not in a compromising position." Hand to chest, Gabe gasped as if Liz had committed a horrendous sin. Then the inquisition began. "Were you or were you not lying on the floor?" "Well…yes, but…" "Was or was not Mr. Evans lying on top of you?" "Yes, Gabe, but you have it all…" "Were you or were you not rolling around together?" "That's only because…" Anticipating her excuse, Gabe asked her directly. "Was he or was he not tickling you?" Liz let out an exasperated sigh and ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. Her voice began to gain in decibels. "Yes, Gabe. Which is **why** we were on the floor rolling around! We were just playing! It was completely innocent!" Gabe chuckled. "Oh, you were playing alright. In fact, I believe the proper term Sister Mary Margaret used was 'foreplay'." "Sister Mary Margaret…" Liz was desperately trying to keep her voice even and calm. She was failing miserably. "…simply walked in at the wrong time." "Oh, I think not." Glancing at Sydney with a significant look, Gabe lowered his voice conspiratorially. "Any longer and we would be dealing with an entirely different bet altogether." "Oh, really?" The accusatory laughter in Sydney's eyes did not go unnoticed by Liz. Gabe nodded emphatically. "In fact, there are about four different bets involving Max, Rachel and…" Gabe wiggled his eyebrows. "…extra-cirricular activities." "Alrighty. I think we've heard enough for one day…" Deciding it was way past time to end Gabe's little confession session, Liz stood up and clasped her hands in front of her. Gabe took her cue and began to rise as well. Sydney pulled him back down onto the couch. "So, these bets…" Sydney leaned toward Gabe and egged him on with an encouraging smile. "What exactly are the details…" Throwing her hands up, Liz let out a growl of frustration. "Fine. Fine. Be that way. I'm soo not going to stick around and listen to this." Flipping her hair behind her shoulders, she held up her anonymously sent note. "**I** have better things to do than discuss non-existent relationships and bets that will never be won!" Gabe and Sydney watched as Liz flounced out of the room before turning to each other with a knowing smile. Sydney wiggled her eyebrows. "Sister Mary Margaret actually called it foreplay?" Chuckling, Gabe nodded his head. "You should have seen Mr. Evans' reaction to **that** one…" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The restless blue eyes roamed the majestic mountain peaks as the sun's last rays cast a softening glow over the entire countryside. One more day had passed. One less day he would live. There was still so much to do before the end… Darian Wolfe let out a weary sigh before turning from the window to slowly edge his way toward the elegant chair sitting scorchingly close to the roaring fire. He paused, his breathing labored. He was instantly surrounded by two massive bodyguards, one on each side supporting him as he progressed forward. Part time keepers, part time sentry, they each had a weapon well hidden under the black suit coats. Darian sank into his chair as his tired eyes drifted closed. A knock on the door didn't change his expression. The command was given and a guard moved to quickly fulfil the request. The click of the door opening, the shuffling of feet and the air rattling in the old man's lungs were the only sounds in the room. A disheveled man scooted his way in front of the ancient and with hands clasped behind his back, he bowed his head reverently...waiting. "Well?" Head remaining bowed, the lackey's eyes never raised from the new scuffs on his old shoes. "It is done." "You are sure it is her?" "Aye." "Where was it delivered?" "Her office." "When?" "This afternoon, my lord." "And the child?" "No sign of her. Or of her keeper." Came the quiet answer. "Continue the search. Immediately advise me of Ms. Parker's reaction upon receiving the message." "Aye." He waved an ancient hand in the air. "You may go." As soon as the door was closed behind the lackluster servant, a figure stepped out of the shadows to address Darian Wolfe. "How long will you play this game if it is, in fact, Liz Parker you have found?" "Until I'm tired of seeing her squirm." Came the hushed reply. "Until I feel she has suffered…as much as me." "Is that even possible?" Piercing blue eyes opened to meet those of his inquisitor. "No. But who ever said that I can't try?" One silent nod was his answer. "What about the child?" "We need her so she will be unharmed. She has what I require." "And McKenna. Does she too know the plan?" A wry smile touched the old man's lips. "McKenna knows nothing except her own selfish desires. As such, she's just another pawn in my game of revenge. Her hatred of Liz Parker serves me well, so I feed it. Her desire for Max Evans…equally meets my purposes. I allow her to believe her dreams will be realized because that makes her a loyal, pliable subject." Blue eyes turned to steel. Voice hardened icily. "The second she steps out on her own, I shall have no more need of her. As with all who fall under the Code, death is the punishment for betrayal." "Yes, my lord." Another understanding nod. "Do you require anything else this evening?" "Yes." A slight nod of his graying head and final command. "Bring prototype A for her lessons. I want her to be ready when it comes time to destroy Liz Parker and Max Evans." "Yes, my lord." One last bow and Nathaniel Carter, former member of the Stars, slipped out of the room to deliver his master's latest command. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Much later that night… Her nerves were on edge. Her senses, on over-drive. The bright light cut through the dense darkness of her bedroom as it swung around before disappearing. She tensed, forcing her body to remain as still as possible, as her ears strained to carefully listen. Waiting. Holding her breath. Wondering whose footsteps were falling on the crisp ground below her window. The prowler eased pass her window moving along the backside of the apartment building in the general direction of the French doors that would allow access to the apartment's living room. Silently as she could, she slipped from her bed and inched her way toward her bedroom door. Slipping through the narrow opening, she hesitated only a moment in the doorway before inching her way into the hallway, past her roommate's room then on to the living room. Staying in the shadows, her steady hands never once fumbled when she reached under a shelf on the bookcase to find the gun tucked safely out of the way. She checked it. A bullet was in the chamber. Eyes focused on the un-accosted French doors, she inched past the kitchen toward the front door. Quietly unlatching it, she eased her way through, closing it with a soft click behind her. She covered the perimeter of the apartment building in a matter of a few silent moments. Pausing at the corner she flattened herself against the building, her gun ready, her breath held in anticipation. There was the soft sound of metal against metal. She risked taking a glance around the corner. Her fears were confirmed. The figure dressed in all black wasn't content to remain a mere prowler. At that moment, the lock on the French doors to her apartment was being picked. By a professional. That much, she could tell. If there had been any doubt, it was erased with the ease and swiftness in which the task was accomplished. Through the mouth of the ski mask, she could make out a faintly conceited smile of arrogance. Every muscle tensed in her body and her finger slipped over the trigger of her gun as the gloved hand belonging to the would be intruder curled around the door knob. The knob slowly turned. Her hands gripped the gun so tightly her knuckles turned white. With aching slowness the door began to open. She counted to three. One. Two. Three... Stepping boldly from her hiding place, Sydney Bristow leveled a command that the gun in her steady, trained hands backed up with no room for question. "Remove your hand from the handle or I'll remove it for you." The startled figure immediately held his hands up in the air and slowly turned to face Sydney. The dark eyes shining through the two holes in his black mask gauged her warily a moment before attempting conversation. "What we obviously have here is a case of…" "Breaking and entering?" Sydney offered casually as she inched her way forward, her ever vigilant gaze constantly gauging his every move. "I agree." A half smile curled his lips upward. "Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of mistaken intentions." "Mistaken?" Sydney's eyebrow rose. "Oh, I don't know. Seems your intentions are very clear." Though her gaze didn't move, she noticed the silent movement of another agent coming from behind the intruder. She recognized him immediately. He nodded to her. She kept the intruder talking. He didn't seem to mind. As a foot inched ever so slightly toward the door, the man in black spoke again. "From your vantage point, I'm sure they do. However, I feel I need to clarify." One more slight move. "You see…I have every intention of getting inside that apartment for purely altruistic reasons. And you…" "Intend to stop you cold if you take one more step toward that door." Sydney finished for him. Her accomplice was only inches away from the intruder now. His gun was raised to strike. "Actually…" In one swift move, the masked man slammed his elbow into the gut of the man who had crept up behind him and grabbed the hand that held the gun aloft. Snapping the agent's arm downward against his knee, he swiftly disarmed the agent in an alarming matter of seconds before spinning on him. Then, with a knee to the groin and an upward jab to the agent's chin, he knocked him out cold. Whirling back to face Sydney, the man leveled the gun at Sydney's heart while flashing her a brilliant smile. "You're going to be a gracious hostess and let me in." "You're government." The deduction was made after watching the moves he'd used to down a trained, armed agent. Without breaking a sweat. Tilting his head to the side in acknowledgement, he made an observation of his own. "So are you." Lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, the man made a statement that surprised Sydney. "No need to report the little incident with bozo back here." He indicated the agent behind him. "I'm sure it would not only be a little embarrassing to him, but to you as well." "To me." Sydney repeated as her eyebrow rose in interest. He nodded. "Yeah, I wouldn't think your superiors would be too thrilled to know you willingly put yourself in a situation where at least three high powered rifles were trained on you at one time." Sydney followed his nod behind her toward a large tree on the perimeter of the apartment complex to catch a glimpse of a man disappearing behind the tree. Her eyes quickly scanned the rest of the trees lining the property. A glint of shiny black metal alerted her to the position of the second gunman. She never did find the third. He spoke again, his voice droll and bored, his shrug nonchalant. "My men. They follow my orders only. Which mean that you're safe…as long as you do as I say." "What branch are you?" Sydney asked, for the first time a level of recognition flickering across her mind. "Actually…just skip that. Who the hell are you?" "A visitor who wants nothing more than five peaceful minutes inside." He answered coolly. Sydney rejected his enigmatic reply by cocking her gun. Her voice was firm. "Who are you?" The man remained silent, seemingly weighing his options. Finally, he let out a sigh of defeat and lowered the gun he'd taken from the agent still lying on the ground behind him, completely dead to the world. "I'm the guy that's been driving your roommate crazy the last few days." He quickly removed his mask to reveal the handsome face of a stranger Sydney instantly recognized. "Max Evans?" A genuine smile broke out on his face and he actually began to chuckle. "I see she's mentioned me." Sydney nodded, her eyes widening in awe. It wasn’t every day you meet a legend. It wasn't every legend that was as yummy as the man standing in front of her. From his toned physique to the startlingly beautiful eyes of his, Sydney Bristow was duly impressed. How Liz Parker could resist such a…hunk… Especially when said hunk was obviously in vigorous pursuit. Well, it was certainly beyond Sydney's comprehension. She shrugged casually trying to mask her growing fascination of the would be intruder standing before her. "She's mentioned something about a lunatic…" Another flashing smile and a slight bow of acknowledgement. "I get that a lot." Sydney bit back a smile. "So what exactly are you doing here? And why were you trying to break in? Was knocking on the front door a little too difficult for you?" Max's grin disappeared. His moment of gallant charm had passed. Her question had sharply brought back to him the reason for his visit. "Actually, I wanted to check on Rachel." "Check on her." Sydney repeated, her expression suddenly shadowing with seriousness. "Why? Is there a reason…" Her question ended abruptly as her eyes scanned the trees once more before flicking back to meet Max's. Suddenly, puzzle pieces clicked into place. "Oh my God. You know, don't you?" Max's face was unreadable. His words faintly clipped. "Know what?" "And she has no idea that you know." Sydney continued, with awe in her voice. Max shrugged, his steady gaze never once leaving Sydney's. "I have no idea what you're talking about." Eyes narrowing warily, Sydney paused a moment trying to decide her next course of action. With the connections a multi-billionaire like Max must have not to mention his obvious covert background, it made sense that he would have the resources to find out what Liz Parker had had for breakfast on her birthday…when she was eight…if he wanted to. Of course, he would have found out about Liz's past with Chris. After all, his friend, Alex, knew. And an inquiring mind like Max's wouldn't easily accept Liz just suddenly changing her name and location on a whim. He'd done research. He knew the truth. She could see it in the way he denied it… Almost by silent agreement neither of them said the words out loud. They understood each other perfectly with one look. Taking a major risk that didn't feel all that risky, Sydney lowered her gun. "Are your men permanent fixtures now?" "They work in shifts." "Shadow her to work?" Max lowered his gun as well. "Grocery store, gas station. Wherever she goes, they go too." "For how long?" "Since I found out she was here." Max answered quietly his gaze shifting to the apartment building. "Nice place. Thanks for giving her a home." Sydney's heart instantly warmed at the tone of his voice. The regret that someone else was giving her what he could not. The gratefulness that Liz had at least one other person to lean on in her period of relative solitude. Sydney let out a sigh of contemplation. "She's going to hate this when she finds out." "Then make sure she doesn't." Max responded in a voice that was much more like a command than a suggestion or even a request. Gaze wavering for the first time, Max swallowed hard. "How did she react to the anonymous note." "How did you…" Max's head snapped back up, concerned she'd think he had been the culprit. "I spoke to Gabe this evening. He told me he delivered one to her. I know it wasn't from me and given the fact no one is supposed to know she's here, well…" Sydney nodded, his logic making perfect sense. "It wasn't good. She was ready to run." Stuffing his hands into his pockets, Max's voice softened. "What made her stay?" "You gave her a princess on her cowendar instead of a dragon." Sydney stated, alluding to Jaedan and Max's calendar project. Syd shrugged. "Maybe she couldn't resist seeing if you can do it again tomorrow." She paused, amazed by the light of hope that flashed through Max's dark eyes, then nodded toward the door. "Come on. Front door's open. I've got the note inside. Maybe you can make something out of it." Max breathed a sigh of relief as he followed Sydney Bristow into the apartment. It would make things so much easier to have an accomplice on the inside. Though he got the distinct impression that Sydney was fiercely loyal to her roommate. She may have budged an inch just then, but that certainly didn't mean he had a reliable source. She'd protect Liz from anything and anyone…even him. Which is precisely why he trusted her. His eyes narrowed as he stared down at the note Sydney handed to them once they were inside. It was typed on standard typing paper. There was nothing out of the ordinary with the typeset. Nothing identifying about the style. The words were instantly confusing…and alarming. The Code makes no exceptions. Remember the Massacre. "She understood this, didn't she?" Max asked quietly. "Oh, yeah. She understood." Sydney whispered back. Max's eyes snapped up to meet Sydney's. "She tell you what this is about?" Nodding Sydney's gaze shifted as she crossed her arms in front of her, a sudden shiver racing through her body. She swallowed hard and her face paled considerably in the shadows of the dark living room. "That bad?" Sydney nodded again. Max pulled in a steadying breath as horrifying images raced through his mind. With her past, her ex husband…anything was possible. Once again he was overcome with an overwhelming rush of hate. Hate for a man he'd never met. For a man who killed with the snap of his fingers. Who destroyed with such callous disregard. Hate for a man who crushed the tenderest without one iota of regret. He wouldn't crush Liz. Not this time. Firm resolve replaced rampant fear. From Max's jacket pocket he quickly pulled out a small device that fit in his palm of his hand. Placing the note flat on the kitchen counter, he laid the black object at the top left hand corner and began to slowly run it across the page. Instantly curious, Sydney leaned forward to watch the task in progress. "What is that?" "Fingerprint scanner." Max answered softly, his eyes glued to the inch long screen that suddenly exploded with jagged lines. "You're kidding. I didn't even know they had scanners like that." "Latest in technology. We're talking prototype here." Max glanced up at Sydney's silence. He shrugged as a sheepish grin flashed over his expression. "It's amazing what money can buy." A beep from the scanner instantly pulled Max's attention back to his task. Scanning the words popping up on the screen, Max let out a disappointed sigh. "Either this thing needs more R&D or Sydney Bristow, bank agent with Credit Dauphine, Los Angeles California is the person who sent this to her or…" "They wore gloves." Max looked back up at Sydney and nodded. "They wore gloves." "Think this is from…" Sydney raised an eyebrow, not venturing to say the dreaded name. Max shook his head. "I doubt it. But that doesn't mean he didn't have someone do it for him." "Which means he knows where she is." "Or he's guessing and this is a shot in the dark to get a reaction. If she runs, he knows he's got her. If not…" Replacing the scanner into his pocket, Max slipped the note back into its envelope and tucked it into his pocket for safe keeping. Sydney opened her mouth to protest. Max raised his hand to stop her. "I know the CIA has numerous resources. None of them match mine. If she asks what you found out, just tell her the Agency is checking on it. If I get anything, I'll let you know." "How did you…but what if she didn’t ask me…what makes you think…" Max genuinely grinned for the first time. "Bristow. As in Jack. He used to talk about his daughter, little Sydney, all the time. That is, when he did actually talk." Sydney sank down onto a stool, her mouth gaping with surprise. Max continued, his eyes beginning to twinkle with amusement. "Given your parentage, his rank with the CIA and the fact you are also government, I just put two and two together. It comes up to an obviously accurate number four that spells out Sydney Bristow, secret agent for the CIA. As for knowing you'd be checking on this for her…I know her well enough to know that's about the only thing that would really make her stay instead of run." Max paused as a soft smile haunted his lips. "That, and her princess days." "Now, if you don't mind, I just need to see with my own eyes that she's ok." Max started to step away from the counter when Sydney stopped him with a piercing question. "Why don't you just tell her the truth? That you know about her. For that matter, why don't you tell her who you really are." The quiet, thought reply came back with stunningly patient wisdom. "She makes me who I am now. And that's a world away from who I used to be. I need her to trust that enough to let go on her own." Max's eyes met Sydney's. "And she will. It's just going to take time. Until then, I think you and I both have reasons to keep this under our hats. Don't you agree?" His pointed question caused Sydney's chin to jut out in resolve. "She won't hear it from me." "Good." Nodding with satisfaction, Max turned and stealthily slipped toward Liz's room but not before tossing Sydney one last command. "Next time you see your dad, tell him Max Evans said that I'm only alive now because of what he taught me then." Moments later, he paused a moment in her doorway, his eyes focused on the very treasure that was closest to his heart. Inching his way forward, Max noiselessly knelt by Liz's bed and hesitantly reached out to lightly touch her hair. Max's heart broke at the picture before him. Tear tracks stained her face. Her brows were scrunched up in disturbed sleep. Her arms were clutching the stuffed wolf Max had given her tightly to her chest. She shifted uneasily as her lips trembled against fearful dreams deep in her subconscious. Shutting his eyes against the sight, Max rested his hand gently over hers and bowed his head. She instantly stilled. Her grip on the wolf relaxed slightly. She let out a sigh of relief. Max's eyes drifted back open as a hushed promise slipped through his lips. "I'm going to end this for you, sweetheart. I swear I will." A soft smile claimed his lips as his eyes drifted to the calendar hanging over her night stand. The past two days had pencilled in smiling princesses. Softened gaze slipping back to Liz's face now full of peace, Max swallowed the lump in his throat. "Two down. A lifetime to go. And I'm going to do everything in my power to make every day a princess day. You deserve…nothing less." Unable to resist the smell of her hair and the warm of her skin, Max cautiously leaned forward and brushed his lips against her smooth cheek. A whisper in her ear and Liz Parker's hand unconsciously held onto his. "Stick with me, honey. Stick with me and don't run. Please. Please don't turn your back on us. Not when I've only just begun to love you…" A half an hour later, Sydney Bristow dialed a familiar number. The groggy voice answered. Sydney offered an eight word explanation for her rude interruption of sleep. "We've got a problem. We need to meet." Without waiting for a response, she hung up the phone then grabbed a blanket from the hall closet and headed toward Liz's room. Standing a step inside the doorway, she halted in reverent awe once more at the sight that greeted her before silently unfolding the blanket and laying it over the still kneeling form of Max Evans. As he slept. Head on Liz's bed next to hers. Hand in hand with the woman he loved. Tbc… |
| posted on 29-Jul-2002 7:38:27 AM by Ashton |
| Hey all!
Here's the next part! It's a long one. Definitely not one of the funnier chpts, but we'll be getting back to all of that really soon. Hope you enjoy and as always would LOVE to hear what you think!!!
Hugs, Ashton ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ chapter 14 ~ "He knows." Sydney's worried pacing stopped abruptly as she turned to face Vaughn. Wearily wiping the sleep from his eyes, Vaughn tried to stifle a yawn. "Ok." His tone was distracted and totally unconcerned. "Vaughn." The sharpness of Sydney's tone caused Vaughn to sit up straight in his hard metal chair. "Huh?" Shaking his head to wake himself, he tried his best to recall something…anything…of Sydney's jumbled, hasty explanation for the middle of the night meeting. There had been something about Liz and Max and a note. Beyond that, he wasn't quite sure why he was sitting on a cold, hard chair in the middle of a warehouse in his… Vaughn groaned inwardly. He had his slippers on. His fuzzy, wuzzy bunny slippers. The ones his crazy Aunt Trish had given him for Christmas and made sure he wore each time he came to visit. She was visiting now. Apparently, she still thought he was six. Great going Mr. Secret Agent Man. Sooo totally not the way to make an impression. Especially when Sydney looked as if she'd just walked out of a salon. Well…not exactly. No make up, hair slightly messed up, it was clear she’d had very little sleep. But despite all of that, she still had that glamorous 'thing' going for her. What he wouldn't love to see what she looked like after a night of mad, passionate… "Vaughn. I swear if you don't start paying attention…" "Right. Sorry." Recognizing Sydney 'don't mess with me' tone, Vaughn snapped to attention. "So, uh…you're saying Max knows about…" Sydney let out an exasperated sigh. "Liz's past. Chris. The note. You name it, he knows it." "And he's put guards on Liz?" Slowly coming alive, Vaughn's tone at least gave the impression he was finally picking up on the details. "Yes." "How many again?" Sydney sat down on a chair opposite Vaughn. "Two that I saw. He said there were three. I have no reason to doubt him." “Sounds like Liz Parker is quickly becoming the most guarded woman in LA.” Vaughn commented, a level of irritation edging his voice. He had always hated dealing with other agencies let alone arrogant multi-billionaires who felt they could make the world stop or start with just a snap of their fingers. But since he was Alex’s friend, not to mention a legend in his own right, Vaughn would try to deal with Max Evans on his terms. Until those terms stepped on the wrong toes. Running a hand through his already rumpled hair, Vaughn tried to focus once more on the immediate issue: Liz’s safety. "Ok. So, tonight…he just dropped by and tried to break in because…" "He knew Liz had received the anonymous note." Sydney responded automatically as worry clouded her eyes. "The note from Chris." "We don't know.” Sydney corrected Vaughn with a shake of her head. “We don’t think so. I called when I was with Liz earlier and verified that Chris is safe and sound in his cell at the federal pen. So, even if he’s responsible, he’s not physically here to cause any danger to her." Swallowing hard, Sydney’s voice registered honest to goodness fear. "Frankly, that’s the only reason Liz isn’t on her way to a new identity tonight.” “She’s positive this was related to Chris?” Sydney nodded. “Oh, yes. Whoever sent that note, Vaughn, they know about her past. Because it…it certainly came from that time in her life." Sydney's eyes met Vaughn's. "Vaughn. She was seriously freaked. And I have to be honest…after what she told me tonight, I'm right there with her…" A quick knock proceeded Sydney's entrance into Liz's room. "Liz, you'll never guess what Gabe was saying about Max…" Her chuckles instantly turned to a gasp. "Liz. What are you doing? What's…what's going on?" Tears streaming down her face, Liz Parker was racing around her room, pulling clothes down from the closet and throwing them into suitcases lying open on her bed. "I'm…I'm sorry, Syd. I've…" Liz pulled open a dresser drawer and dug all of the clothes out before quickly spinning to the bed and dumping them unceremoniously in the suitcase. "…I've got to get out of here." "Stop. Liz…talk to me." Sydney rushed forward, instant concern etched in her expression. "Liz, stop!" She reached Liz just as she yanked a drawer completely out of the dresser, dumping it all over the floor. She let out a frustrated yell and sank to her knees as a million emotions tumbled over her and battled for control. Overwhelming fear was the clear winner. Liz bent her head, a flood of tears began shaking her entire body. Catapulted into action, Sydney dropped to her knees next to Liz and instantly pulled her into a hug. "Shh, Liz. It's going to be ok. Whatever it is, we'll figure something out. You've got so many people on your side…" "I…I can't…" Liz's broken speech was barely discernable amidst the sobs echoing in the room. "…can't…put him…in…in danger. He'll…he'll kill…him. To teach me. He won't…won't forgive this. Especially since I…I…" The sentence was finished with new burst of tears. "Liz." Shaking Liz gently by the shoulders, Sydney tried to get Liz's attention. "Liz. You have to calm down. You have to tell me what's going on so I can help." Her only response was to thrust a sheet of paper into Sydney's hands. Sydney read the words out loud. "The Code makes no exceptions. Remember the Massacre." Her gaze snapped up to Liz with alarm. A shaky hand angrily swiped at the tears still flowing down her cheeks. Rocking back and forth, Liz’s gaze was unfocused. Her face was pale. She was still shaking uncontrollably. Sydney attempted to get control of the situation. Covering Liz's hands with hers, her voice was gentle and calming. "Liz. What's this about? Is this…is this about Chris?" Liz nodded before burying her head in her arms, a fresh waterfall of tears beginning. For a woman used to running from whizzing bullets and disarming nuclear bombs, Sydney felt honest to goodness panic beginning to grip her. When she spoke, her voice was sharper than she intended. "Liz, you have to stop this right now. I can't help you unless you talk to me. And you can't talk unless you stop crying." Whether it was her commanding tone or her words, something clicked with Liz. A few last sobs escaped as she valiantly wiped the tears from her face. She struggled to speak. "I'm sorry, Syd. I'm…I'm so very sorry. I…I have loved being here with you but…" "You are not leaving, Liz." Sydney stated calmly as she rubbed Liz's arm reassuringly. Attempting to prompt a smile, Sydney made her first mistake. "Especially not with all the revenge plots you've planned for Max." Liz's lips quivered and her eyes instantly filmed over with new tears. Sydney quickly cut off the flood before it started. "Alright, let's forget Max right now." Then, Liz Parker said something that surprised Sydney. Not for the implication of the statement, but for the admission itself. "I…can't forget him. He's the reason I…he's the reason I have to leave." "Why?" "Because…” Liz pulled in a shaky breath and tried again. “Because…" Voicing the suspicion she'd harbored since the first time she'd heard Liz say his name, Sydney softly rendered her pronouncement. "You've fallen in love with him." "No." Liz shook her head emphatically. Her lips tightened. "I have not. I **will** not." "Liz, come on. It's obvious from today alone that you adore…" Liz's tone hardened and her eyes became two black beads of resolve. "I had a good day today alright? Nothing more. It…" Her gaze wavered as her voice trailed off in a whisper. "…it can't be anything more." "But what if it is?" Sydney asked gently. Gaze snapping back to Sydney's face, Liz blinked suddenly. "You deal with 'what if' scenarios every day, don't you?" Sydney nodded once. "Well, I have one for you. What if you’re right? What if this thing between Max and me is the beginning of something…more? What if Max and I do it all. We fall in love, we get married, have kids of our own…the whole bit." "Sounds good so far." "Right." Liz nodded once, then continued the version of her future she feared most. “So, what if say, five or ten years from now, Max and I are still together, in love and happy with our little family. And what if Chris finds out his wife is living with another man." "His wife…living with another man.” Sydney repeated slowly, Liz’s chosen words creating a flash of confusion in Sydney’s expression. “Liz, you make it sound like you'd be cheating on Chris." Voice deathly low, Liz’s eyes met Sydney’s with meaning. "According to the Code, I would be.” “That’s insane.” A wry, sickened smile touched Liz’s lips. “That’s my ex-husband.” “But…” Pushing her chestnut hair behind her ears, Sydney shook her head. “…Liz, he'd have no legal rights…" "Laws don't matter to those who live by the Code." Liz shot back heatedly. "To them, I'm his wife until death parts us. Period. I'm his…possession…until I draw my last breath. If I dishonor my husband…in any way…the penalty is…" Liz broke off, unable to say the words. "What, Liz? What is the penalty?" Squeezing her eyes shut, Liz forced the words out of her mouth. "Death. Max first. Execution style. After he'd tortured him for daring to touch me. I'd be made to watch." She swallowed hard and pulled in a shaky breath. "And our children? I'd never set eyes on them again. He'd take Jaedan and…crush her spirit." Her voice faded to a whisper. "Just like he did mine." Running her fingers through her hair, Liz licked her parched lips before continuing. "And as for my children with Max, he might spare their lives because they're just kids, but if he did, he'd only sell them to the highest bidder and they would never know they had two parents who loved them and never wanted to let them go." Liz's eyes opened as she asked the question she knew Sydney was thinking. "How can I be so sure?" Her voice was even; her gaze distant. It was as if she were on automatic pilot, reciting a story told time and time again. Sydney would have never guessed she was the first person Liz Parker ever told this particular secret to. “I had been commissioned to write a musical score for a movie. The title of one of the songs was The Massacre. It was one of my more difficult pieces and I spent quite a bit of time in the studio on our property working on it.” Leaning back against the wall, Liz pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms protectively around herself. “Chris was gone a lot at the time on business trips. I was actually…happy. If you can call it that. For the first time since marrying him, I was relatively alone. The servants and guards were around, but they didn’t bother me in the studio. They knew the truth of my situation and tried to help any way they could without putting themselves in jeopardy. As a result, I was able to do what I loved.” A faint bittersweet smile haunted Liz’s lips. “I painted. Created music. I found inspiration…whenever Chris was gone.” A stillness filled the room. Sydney didn’t move a muscle knowing the story was far from over. Liz seemed lost in her thoughts as her eyes glazed over with guilt and pain. Until she unexpectedly introduced a new character into her tale. “His name was Adrian. He was a sweet, young kid. Had an encouraging word for everyone he met. Always very helpful and courteous. He was awed by…everything. The fact he was working for the great Christopher Santoro.” A smile of sarcasm turned to one of remembrance. “Awed by how many shades of blue could be used on a single canvass. He was even awed by me. By my music. My paintings. He'd come into the studio sometimes just to hear me practice. You see, Adrian wanted to be a musician. He loved music…so very much. I’ve never seen anyone with such a thirst for a tune. And he was good. Very talented. Even helped me through a very difficult bridge on my piece.” Eyes brightening with tears, Liz swallowed the lump that was lodged in her throat. “I swear to you…not one moment we spent together, not one word or even one glance between us was ever inappropriate. He was simply…my friend. A young man who didn’t know enough about the real world to see the truth behind all of the lies surrounding him. I never told him anything about the horror of being Chris’ wife. I wanted one part of my life to be simple and honest and true…” Like a song building to a grand crescendo, there was a pause. A rest. A moment of silence only broken by the steady drumbeat of the ticking clock. Until Sydney’s horrified whisper shimmered in the room. “What…happened?” Liz shifted uncomfortably and pulled her knees even tighter to her chest. Her clasped knuckles began turning white with the fierceness of her grasp. “Chris came home from a trip early one time to find Adrian and myself in the studio working on a song together. He went…stark raving mad. The guards were called to haul Adrian away for a time where Chris could attend to him personally. Later I found out Adrian had been buried…without his fingers. Chris had them all cut off…as a warning to others to never touch me…his property...ever again." Sydney's gasp echoed in the room and sent a shudder through Liz. She swallowed hard. "That night…that night after taking Adrian away…Chris turned his attention to his cheating, slut of a wife.” Liz’s eyes drifted closed as the memory began to chill her. “That’s what he called me. For an innocent friendship with a boy that wouldn’t hurt a fly, I had been denounced as…unclean.” The brief pause emphasized Liz’s nightmare. Her hushed whisper chilled the room. “He spent the rest of the night teaching me what happens when a wife breaks the Code. When a wife…dishonors her husband.” “Oh, God, Liz…” Brushing away tears that had trickled down her face, Liz continued, her voice hard with hatred. “It took me a week to recover enough to get out of bed. By that time, it was all over. There was no sign of Adrian. No hint he had ever existed. Except…” Her chest hitched with unshed tears as her lips quivered. “…I heard…the servants’ whispers. And when I…when I…was finally able to slip away unseen, I headed to the one place they’d all…mentioned." "The studio walls…my…piano…the pure white…sheets of music…we had worked on together…” Covering her face with her hands, Liz’s broken speech made it hard to understand her. Despite that, Sydney got the picture. “…everything was stained…with Adrian’s…blood…” Despite the bile rising in Sydney’s throat, she was by Liz’s side in an instant, attempting to wrap her arm around her shoulders. Unwilling to accept anyone's comfort, Liz pushed herself off the floor and began to pace as she wiped away resentful tears. Sydney watched her in stunned silence until Liz felt controlled enough to continue. Which took a few moments. Moments in which Liz felt the weight of the memory bearing down on her with increasing pain and guilt. Not just for the past, though that was horrible in and of itself. But for the present as well. The burden of current decisions and how they would effect the future of so many lives weakened her knees as she unconsciously sank down on her bed. Absently picking up the stuffed wolf Max had given her, Liz clutched it to her chest, closed her eyes and breathed in Max's scent as it still lingered in the soft fur. It triggered a new memory. A recent one. One that was happy and…completely unexpected. But to understand the significance, Liz needed to finish her tale. Pulling in a deep breath, she swallowed hard and finally continued. "I never went back to the studio again. I never wrote another piece of music. In all of these years…nothing." Liz's eyes shifted to meet Sydney's. "Until today." "Today." Sydney repeated as realization began to light her eyes. "We were in the office. We weren't…even talking." A faint smile touched her lips as Liz remembered the exact moment the music entered her head. "He…glanced up at me. Our eyes met and…he smiled. The song started…right at that moment." A helpless shrug was Liz's response. "He…gave me…a princess day. Just like he does for Jaedan. It felt…so good. But it's so wrong." "Liz…" "He'll die, Sydney." Liz's voice hardened once more. "If I don't stop him, I won't be able to stop…me." The pause before she repeated herself emphasized the one truth Liz Parker knew. "The Code makes no exceptions. I've been warned. If I don't stop…because of me…Max Evans will die..." Growing concerned with Sydney's silence, Vaughn finally spoke. "Syd. Are you ok?" There was a pause. "It's just…so sad. To be so terrified to love someone. Knowing with just one wrong move, if the wrong people found out, you might be forced to watch the person you love…die." The parallel between Sydney's past and Liz's present weren't lost on Vaughn. For that matter, the irony of his own situation was glaringly obvious. He loved her…Sydney Bristow. He'd known it for a while now and had ceased trying to deny it, at least to himself, months ago. But he would never let her know. He'd never risk putting her in that kind of danger. He'd never let on just how desperately he wanted to say the three words that so many people in the world take for granted. Living in a world of danger simply didn't allow for casual 'I love you's'. Vaughn knew that. Sydney Bristow knew that. Liz Parker knew that. It seemed…Max Evans still had that to learn. "So, how did you get her to calm down?" Vaughn asked quietly, his searching gaze fixed on Sydney's face. Wherever she had just traveled in her mind, it hadn't been pleasant. Knowing Sydney, she would tell him…if she could. So, Vaughn could only assume the silence that had gripped her had to do with Liz's dilemma and not her own tragic past. "I gave her a sleeping pill. She'll be dead to the world for hours." A flicker of worry raced through Vaughn's eyes at Sydney's soft answer. "Sleeping pill." Nodding, Sydney tucked her hair behind her ears. "I had some left over from right after Danny…" Vaughn's gaze dropped at the mention of Sydney's murdered fiance'. "Oh." Shifting uncomfortably, Sydney cleared her throat and attempted to move past the painful subject of her finance's murder. And how her innocent lack of judgement caused it. "So, she agreed to stay put for a few days to see if anything else comes up. If it does, she's out of here. But until then…" "Right." Vaughn nodded, relieved to be back on solid thinking ground. "So, where's Max now?" "I left him with Liz." "Why? Are they talking…" "He's asleep." "Asleep." Vaughn repeated. Sydney's expression softened as her eyes met Vaughn's. "He wanted to make sure she was ok so he went in to check on her. When I went in to check on them, they were both asleep." A small smile flitted over Sydney's lips. "He was holding her hand." "Great way to keep watch." Vaughn commented with a note of sarcasm. Sydney's eyes snapped with irritation. "Look. I don't know what your problem is with him…" "My problem is…" Vaughn's voice tensed. "…if Max Evans loves her as much as everyone keeps claiming he does, and if he knows the truth about her past and how dangerous this is for her, then he wouldn't be pursuing her so openly. You don't knowingly put someone you love in danger. You just don't." "He just wants to be with her, Vaughn. What is so wrong with that?" "We don't always get what we want, Syd." Vaughn's lips tightened into a thin line as his hazel eyes met hers meaningfully. "Not by a long shot. And it's pretty damn arrogant of him to think he can." Sydney swallowed hard, her gaze shifting uncomfortably. When she spoke, her voice was full of emotion. "Arrogant or not, right or wrong, at least he's going for what he wants. He's not letting fear rule his heart." "He should be." Vaughn shot back without hesitation. Sydney's eyes raised to meet his, the hurt his reaction caused was obvious. "I'm sorry you feel that way, Michael." Rising from her chair, Sydney quickly grabbed her purse her eyes never once leaving his. "You have no idea just how sorry I am…" With that quiet denouncement, Sydney Bristow turned and left a stunned Michael Vaughn sitting in the middle of a warehouse with a racing heart and a head full of explosive questions. And a rare sense of…awed contentment. For the first time since knowing him, Sydney Bristow had called him by his first name. ~~~~~~~~~~~ The door opened after the second knock. Sydney slipped inside without a word. Her father closed and locked the door behind her. It wasn't until they'd both moved into his sparse living room that either of them spoke. Brown eyes raised to meet his. "Thanks for seeing me. I know it's late…" Stiff and unemotional, Jack Bristow's words were clipped as he ignored his daughter's gratitude. He handed her a packet. "This is highly classified information. No one is to know you have it. Not even Vaughn." Sydney nodded in understanding as her eyes dropped to the benign packet in her hands. "He said something about you training him." "Yes." Jack answered quietly. "He was the best I've ever seen for his age. Rose through the ranks even faster than you." He paused. "We lost a great man when we lost Max Evans." "Lost?" Sydney's eyes edged with confusion. "You make it sound like he died or something." "In a way, he did. As far as the Agency is concerned, Max Evans never existed." Her father continued, his voice taking on a level of urgency. "Sydney." Sydney's eyes met his. "If your friend cares anything about her little girl…anything at all…tell her to stay as far away from Max Evans as she possibly can..." "Why?" Sydney's voice sharpened in worry. "Page forty-two should answer that question." Sydney quickly flipped through the pages till they fell open to the page her father indicated. Scanning the words quickly, her eyes widened. "Oh my God." "Max Evans has my highest respect, Sydney. Even my friendship. And I think you know how rare that is." Her father spoke slowly, deliberately. It was the way he spoke when emotions were rising to the surface that he was desperately trying to keep under control. "I wish he could love free and easily without fear. But…" Nodding to the time bomb of information in Sydney's hands, Jack's eyes met hers. "…right there is the reason he never will." Stuffing the papers back into their folder, Sydney flipped her hair behind her shoulders. "I've got to tell Liz." "No." Jack's one word negative and the restraining hand on her arm stopped her from making any rash decisions. "No, Sydney, you can't. You have no idea what kind of trouble it could cause." "Dad…what am I supposed to do with this? How can I let her fall in love with Max when…" Worry flashed in Jack's eyes. "Is it that serious?" "From what I've seen so far…" Sydney nodded. "…yes. I really think so, Dad." Jack's lips tightened as his mind obviously began to whirl. A few brief moments of silence, then Jack's gaze met hers again. "Leave it to me." "But…" "I'll talk to him." Jack explained curtly. "Maybe I can help him see the danger of going forward. If he really loves her then…he'll let her go." Sydney hung her head. "What a waste." "What is?" "So much love…all around us…" Sydney felt a tear trickle down her face. It was as much for herself as it was for Liz. Her words echoed the deepest wishes of her own heart. "No one's willing to risk it all to have it all." "The person who has it all, Sydney…has the most to lose." Sydney's gaze met her father's. "But at least they'll lose knowing they took the chance…" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "She is such a delight." Diane Evans handed Angel a cup of coffee before sitting down next to Phillip on the couch. "Yes, she is." Angel smiled and took a sip of the hot brown liquid before adding a comment that prompted chuckles from her host and hostess. "She's also quite a handful." "Well, Max adores her." Phillip commented with a smile as he wrapped an arm around Diane's shoulder. "And we can both see why." "And she adores him right back." Angel commented with a smile. She let out a sigh and settled back into the soft cushions that surrounded her. "You have no idea how good it feels to share all of this with someone. Your son has been wonderful…about so many things." "You mean Liz." Diane stated with a knowing smile. "Yeah, Liz has been…" Pursing her lips, Angel tried to find a more delicate word then settled on the one that really described Liz Parker. "…difficult, to say the least." "All the more reason our son loves her, I would say." Phillip commented. "Max has rarely ever taken the easy way out of anything. And he's always loved a challenge. Though I've not met her yet, I am certainly looking forward to it. From what Diane says she's definitely a match for Max. Unlike…" Diane's sharp glance in Phillip's direction and his abrupt silence wasn’t lost on Angel. She looked from one to the other. "Unlike who?" Phillip and Diane shared a look before Diane let out a sigh as she turned to Angel. "Unlike McKenna. She was Max's fiancee'." Angel blinked at the newest piece of information. "His fiancee'." "It was years ago." Phillip began to answer the questions immediately popping up in Angel's mind. "Diane and I were never all that comfortable with the girl. In fact, we really thought it was all the result of a rebellious phase Max was going through. I'm firmly convinced it would have never lasted if…" As Phillip's voice trailed off, Diane reached for his hand and squeezed it reassurance. "What happened?" Remembering her last in depth conversation, Angel's eyes darkened with curiosity as she leaned forward. "She was killed." Diane answered softly. "Max blames himself." "It wasn't his fault." Phillip stated stubbornly. "Not a bit of it. It was a mission gone wrong and they tried to pin the blame on him. But we know our son. We trust what his team told us. He wasn’t responsible." "We just wish Max knew that." Diane offered quietly as her eyes met those of her husband. "How…long ago did she die?" Angel asked suddenly. "About five, six years ago." Diane answered her gaze resting on Angel curiously. "Why?" Angel shrugged, her mind instantly shifting into overdrive. "I just…I thought Liz had said something about her, but I guess I misunderstood." "Really." One of Phillip's bushy brows raised. "Max actually talked to Liz about McKenna?" "Oh, I'm not sure how much they've discussed it." Angel answered quickly with a shake of her head. "In fact, I'm not even sure if Liz knows her name…" "Grandnanny." A tiny voice drifted down from the balcony above where the three adults were sitting. Angel immediately looked up to see Jaedan's face stuck between two of the bars in the railing. It was obvious she'd been crying as she hugged Boo Boo Bear to her chest with one arm. "Honey, what are you doing up?" "I's had a night ga'lp cuz there's monst'rs under my bwed." Jaedan answered as a pout formed on her lips and her wide, dark eyes gazed down at them imploringly. "Can I call Max? Pwretty pwlease?" "Sweetheart, it's really late…" Recognizing the note of 'no' in Angel's voice, Jaedan's eyes began to tear up and her lips began to quiver. "But Max's the on'y one who can make my monst'rs go 'way." "Let me take care of this." Phillip immediately jumped to the rescue. He got up from the couch and headed toward the stairs. "You say there's monsters under your bed, huh?" Sitting on the landing, Jaedan turned to face the stairs as Phillip ascended. She nodded vigorously as she rubbed her eyes sleepily. "Uh-huh. It's a bwrand new monst'r. She's all scawry with horns and a big, long, ugly tail." "She?" Phillip inquired as he reached Jaedan and knelt to her level. "Uh-huh." Another nod of her head and her long dark curls bounced against her Winnie the Pooh jammies. "She's weally mean and she wants Mr. Prince Charming to follow her into a big, black cave." "She does?" Phillip asked with a raised eyebrow. "Uh-huh. And I's scared." Her tiny feet sticking out from under jammie pant legs began to move back and forth. Her large dark eyes plead with Phillip as she hugged her stuffed bear to her heart. "Can I call Max? Pwlease? He knows howta get wride of my monst'rs. He makes 'em all go bye-bye." "What's this?" Phillip reached out and tousled Jaedan's hair. "You don't think Papa can make the monsters go bye-bye just like Max?" Jaedan bit down on her lower lip uncertainly as she innocently blinked up at him. "Do ya weally fink ya can?" Phillip's smile was wide and warm. "Of course, I can. Who do you think made all of Max's monsters go bye-bye when he was your age?" Jaedan's steady gaze never left his as she answered Phillip's question in all seriousness. "Nana." Angel and Diane burst into laughter as Phillip's face fell. Before she had a chance to blink, Jaedan was swept up in Phillips strong arms and heading straight to the nearest phone to call her Mr. Prince Charming… ~~~~~~~~~~ "You want me to do what?" McKenna's voice raise almost an entire octave. Kyle shrugged, unfazed. "Think about, McKenna. Max didn't recognize you as you are now. The operation didn’t alter anything that can't be changed back." "You're serious." Her green eyes widened in surprise. "You really want me to have plastic surgery." "It's not like you've not done it before." Kyle reasoned steadily. "Besides, you want Max to remember the past, well…he needs to **see** the past first. Most logical place to start is…your face." "But…" "Look, I've already spoken to the best plastic surgeon there is. He says the procedure can be done in a matter of hours and you're recovery time will only be a week or so." Leaning forward, Kyle gathered McKenna's hands in his. "Say the word, Kenna, and I'll give you everything you had before. Starting with your looks." Instantly taking offense, McKenna pulled her hands from under Kyle's. "So, what are you saying? I'm not attractive enough now?" "No, Kenna. Not at all." Kyle's smooth voice soothed ruffled feathers. "You're as beautiful now as you were then. But, the fact is…you aren't Max's McKenna any more." Worry clouded her expression. "You think Max won't want me now…" "What man in their right mind wouldn't want you, Kenna?" Kyle flashed a smile and swallowed back the bile rising in his throat. "That's not what I'm saying at all." She stiffened. "Then what are you saying?" He let out a dramatic sigh as if he were handing McKenna the keys to Max's heart. "I'm saying that he loved you so very much. When he lost you, the only way to even think about moving on was to forget you ever really existed. Block that period of his life out of his mind completely. Seeing you as you are now…well, that's not going to really get to him. But seeing you as you were before…" Kyle paused and raised a knowing finger. "…now **that** will hit him right where you want it to." To emphasize his point, Kyle laid a dramatic hand over his heart. "Right here, Kenna. It's where you've always been. He just needs to remember that now." There was a moment's pause before she relented with a sigh. "Alright, Kyle. Set up the surgery." Kyle's blue eyes sparkled with victory. "Already done. You're going in the day after tomorrow." Covering her hands once more, Kyle nodded his approval and smiled. "You're doing the right thing, Kenna. Once this is done, nothing can stop you from being with Max. Nothing…" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Max woke with a start. The first sensation that hit him was warmth. Somewhere in her sleep Liz Parker had wrapped one hand around the hand that held hers. She was clinging to it as if her life depended on it. Blinking a few times, Max quickly got his bearings and realized he'd fallen asleep kneeling by Liz's bedside. His gaze shifted to her face prompting a smile. Reaching up, Max gently pushed the hair back from her face before his gaze roamed her figure then settled on her face once more. The soft, gentle rise and fall of her chest with each breath was like a miracle to him. The way her hand curled around his…comforting. And her lips, slightly parted. Her long lashes laying so dark against her skin. The smooth, creamy cheeks. In the depths of sleep, Liz Parker was all innocence. It was hard to imagine she had ever shed a tear. But she had. Many, and each one a bitter reminder of a mistake she made so very long ago. His mind drifted back to what brought him to her side. How a simple errand could take such a drastic turn. The panic that gripped him the moment he'd found out she'd received an anonymous letter… His cell phone rang, jarring him from the disturbing thoughts. Quickly digging into his pocket, he retrieved his phone and answered it before the second ring was complete. "Max here." "Max? It's me. It's Princess." "Jaedan?" Max's brows furrowed with worry as he whispered into the phone. "Sweetie, what's wrong?" Unconsciously mimicking Max, Jaedan dropped her voice to a whisper too. "I had a night gal'p." "Oh, honey…" Max's voice trailed off as his gaze shifted to Liz. She shifted in bed, her face scrunching up in annoyance. "Sweetie, can you hang on a sec?" "Uh-huh." Easing his hand from Liz's death grip, Max rose and slowly, quietly exited her bedroom. Once in the living room he put the phone back up to his ear. "Alright hon. I'm back. Now, tell me what's wrong…" Sydney Bristow entered her apartment with a heavy heart. She'd seen a dramatic change in Liz Parker over the past few days. She'd watched Liz blossom right before her eyes. Until earlier that night, she'd never heard Liz laugh. She'd never seen her eyes sparkle with life. Had never even heard her crack a joke. Max Evans changed all of that. And now, with so many forces against them, it all had to end. Sydney's heart ached for her new friend. For a woman whose circumstance she understood much better than she ever wanted to. It was…heartbreaking to live through. Even more heartbreaking to watch. Slipping the door quietly, Sydney was surprised to hear a male voice whispering gently from the direction of the living room. She quietly inched her way forward and was astonished by what she heard… "It's alright, sweetie. Papa knows how to make all the monsters go bye-bye. He's actually very good at it." His white smile gleamed in the dark. "Yes, honey, I used to let him chase my monsters away." He listened a moment then spoke again. "I'm very glad you had a princess day. And if you try to be really good tomorrow, I bet you'll have another one." Smile deepening, Max's eyes drifted closed. "Oh, sweetie, I love you too. Ok. Night…" A moment of silence followed in which Max let out a contented sigh and shook his head with a chuckle. His grin faded as his gaze moved toward the hall leading to Liz's room with determination. As he stood, he deposited his phone back into his pocket and took a step forward. Sydney stopped him with her words. "You really love them, don't you?" "Yes." Max answer was soft with a core of firm belief centering him to the truest thing he'd even known. "With all my heart. More than I thought I ever could." In that moment, Sydney made a decision. She rounded the couch to face Max. "You know someone by the name Darian Wolfe?" Max's face paled visibly in the darkness and Sydney noticed a slight tremor of his hands before Max's eyes went hard and his lips tightened. "Despite what people like to believe, there is evil in the world, Sydney Bristow. It has a face. It has a name. And that name is Darian Wolfe." Sydney nodded once. "Then you need to know he's on the warpath, and you are his next target." Max sank back down on the chair and swallowed hard, his mind quickly putting pieces of a puzzle together. "Chris didn't send the note. Darian did. He knows about Liz." "But how?" "He has the power and resources to find out anything about anyone. If it were important to him, he'd know the how many corn flakes you ate for breakfast." His midnight eyes snapped back up to meet Sydney's. "Tell me everything you know about this." She handed him a slip of paper. "That's my dad's address. He has all the details." Staring at the paper for a moment, Max memorized the address then handed the paper back to Sydney. "You'll be here to watch her, right?" Sydney nodded. "Do not…I repeat, do **not** let her out of your sight. I'll double security for the next few days, which will help, but she cannot be alone. Ever." Max's voice was hard, leaving no doubt he meant business. "I mean it, Sydney. Even if you have to use the Agency." His eyes bored into hers searching for a responding promise to his command. "Whatever it takes, keep her safe." Sydney accepted his grave challenge with a nod. "What are you going to do?" "Talk to your dad. Then I'll do…" Letting out a deep sigh, Max ran his hand through his hair, his gaze wavering uncertainly. His eyes met hers once more. "I'll do whatever I have to do to keep my girls safe." With that quiet, determined answer, Max slipped past Sydney and headed straight for Liz's room after announcing his immediate intentions. "I need to say good bye." He paused in the doorway of Liz's room, just listening to her steady breathing. It brought a lump of emotion to his throat. Silently slipping toward the bed, Max knelt beside Liz once more. His fingers instantly drawn to her warmth, Max lightly, reverently caressed her cheeks with a featherlight touch. His eyes danced with love and filled with fear as they focused on her face. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I…never wanted 'good-bye' to be in our vocabulary. But I never want you to be in danger because of me either. So…forgive me. Forgive me for leaving when I promised I wouldn't. It's not forever. It'll never be forever. I simply can't stay away from you for that long." Fingers sliding along the smooth strands of her hair, Max's eyes misted. "I promise I'll be back, Liz. On my life, I promise you that." Capturing her hand in his, a faint smile slipped over his lips. He leaned forward and gently kissed her hand, his eyes closing briefly as he made a solemn promise. "And when I come back, we'll pick up…right where we left off." Eyes roaming her face once more, Max seemed to memorizing each perfect feature. "With me loving you." A loving smile brightened his eyes. "And you trying your damnedest not to love me back." Soft gaze landing on her lips, Max took one last chance and leaned forward. Her breath mingled with his just before he brushed his lips lightly against his target. In the midst of her sleep, Liz Parker responded. Her fingers tightened around his hand. Lightly, longingly she opened up to him and deepened a kiss that was intended for good-bye but felt much more like the beginning of something entirely new. Max's fingers slipped through her hair as he felt himself being pulled in to a strong, irresistible current of love. Forcing himself to gently pull away before things went too far, Max searched her face for any sign of consciousness. Letting out a reluctant sigh when he saw none, he breathed his love against her lips. "Stay wild and untamable till I get back ok, Beautiful?" One last brush of his lips. One last I love you. Liz Parker sighed contentedly in her sleep and burrowed further into her pillow as a four-word confession unconsciously escaped her red, swollen lips. "Love you too, Max…" Max Evans never heard the words. He was already gone. ~~~~~~~~~~~ "She received the note." Darian's marble blue eyes crackled with curiosity. "And did she run?" There was a shake of a blonde head. "No, my lord." A devilish smile curled Darian's lips upward. "Good. Very good." "My lord?" Eyes drifting closed in satisfaction, Darian Wolfe's smile deepened deviously. "Though terrified, she stays. Though horrified by the warning, she doesn't run. Why? Because something beyond her power is holding her in place." His eyes opened with diabolic delight. He steepled his hands and pursed his lips in thought. A chuckle escaped him. "Oh, how I shall enjoy destroying them both with their greatest weapon…love." Tbc… |
| posted on 7-Aug-2002 10:11:45 PM by Ashton |
| Hey all!!
Here's the next part! Sorry it took a while. Some of my family are in town. Hope this part explains a little more what Kyle's trying to do with McKenna. I HOPE. ;) I also hope you enjoy!! As always would LOVE to hear what you think!!
hugs, Ashton ~~~~~~~~~ ~ chapter 15 ~ Day 2: Saturday “Maaaax!!!!!” Jaedan’s excited squeal filled the house. Scrambling down from her chair in the kitchen, Jaedan’s little feet flew like lightning across the living room catapulting her straight into Max’s outstretched arms the moment he stepped through the door to his parents' house and called out to the surprised occupants having breakfast inside. Closing his eyes, Max squeezed Jaedan tight and smoothed down her rumpled hair. "Boy, have I missed these hugs!” Pulling back to give her a radiant smile, Max’s dark eyes danced with love. “How’s my princess?” Clasping her hands in front of her and bobbing her head from side to side, that one question prompted a volley of answers as she seemed to continue their conversation from the previous night without a pause. “I's aaallll better now cuz Papa did know how ta make my monst'rs go bye-bye.” Her large dark eyes widened as she shook her head. “But he didn’t do it as good as you cuz they came back later.” Moving strands of hair from her excitedly flushed face, Max frowned. “I’m sorry, Princess.” A shrug of her tiny shoulders preceded the swing of her feet as she absently wiggled from excitement in Max’s arms. “That's 'k cuz you're here now and cuz the Walla Walla Fairy came by and gave us sniffum and kacknaps to eat this mornin'. And now I’s get ta have a Princess Day wiff you! And we can go petted Dwream together and we can make lots of funny faces on the pumpkins and I’s just so very, very happy now cuz I get ta see ya!” “I would have never guessed.” Max’s smile deepened as he tweaked her nose playfully. Hugging her once more, Max’s eyes drifted closed in desperate relief. His whisper was fierce and sincere. “I've missed you so much.” "Max!" Diane was the first of the adults to acknowledge Max's visit. She stepped forward and pressed a motherly kiss on his cheek. "Honey, what a surprise!" Max nodded to his dad and Angel as he slipped an arm around Diane giving her a light squeeze. "Yeah, I uh…well, I needed to drop a few things off. Things that need a bit of personal attention." He gave his father a pointed look. "And explanation. Hope you don't mind." Phillip's eyes narrowed as they met Max's in silence. Despite Max's obviously joyous reunion with Jaedan, the worried determination in Max’s eyes silently stated this was definitely no social call. "Of course not, son. You know you're welcome any time." "Thanks. There's a lot going on so if we can talk in a few minutes…" Seeing his father’s nod and knowing time was of the essence, Max quickly turned back to Jaedan, his first priority coming through loud and clear. “As for you…” Max bounced Jaedan in his arms and tickled her eliciting a fit of giggles. “…I think you said something about sniffum and kacknaps…” Jaedan nodded enthusiastically as she pointed toward the kitchen, her childish babble a direct contrast to the sudden dread that gripped the adults left behind as they exchanged worried glances in silence. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Liz Parker did not want to open her eyes. The dream was way too wonderful to leave. Kisses as sweet as candy. Lips as soft as cotton. Whispers as gentle and warm as a summer breeze. Tender, loving caresses as reverent as a prayer… The ringing of a phone somewhere in a distant reality she didn’t want to join made Liz groan out loud. One eye popped open when she heard the voice just on the other side of her bedroom door. "Yeah, I'm at Syd's right now. She's not up yet. No. Alright, I'll see how this afternoon goes then I'll give you a call. With everything going on, I doubt she'll want to party this weekend, Eric. Alright, I'll ask. Ok. Bye." As the phone clicked off in the hallway, Liz Parker sat up and rubbed her eyes as she called out to the man apparently guarding her door. “Mike? What are you doing here?” The door slowly swing open as Michael Vaughn stuck his head inside, the grimace of apology on his face contradicting his words. “It's about time you got up. Lounging around all day, I'll bet you were a complete diva when you were in the biz weren't you?" Liz blinked in confusion. "What are you talking…" Glancing over at the clock on her nightstand, Liz's eyes widened. "It's after twelve? As in…twelve noon?" Fully stepping into the room, Vaughn nodded. "Yep. I've been waiting at least three hours for you to decide to join the rest of us in the real world." Liz's eyes narrowed as she turned to him, her gaze sweeping his appearance. From his white t-shirt, jogging pants and sneakers Liz it was clear he was in the mood for working out. Why he'd been waiting outside her door for three hours just to say 'good morning' was not, however, all that clear. She crossed her arms in front of her as her eyes snapped up to meet his. "What's this all about?" Vaughn shrugged trying to appear nonchalant. He didn't pull it off very well. Her eyebrow rose as she gave him a pointed look and Vaughn's shoulders slumped slightly in defeat. "Syd told me about the anonymous note." Liz's gaze dropped. "Oh." "Right." Vaughn nodded. "And she had to go on a mission at the last minute so she…" "Asked you to babysit me." Liz filled in for him as her fingers picked at the threads of her comforter. Liz's shrug of nonchalance was no more convincing than Vaughn's. "I'm fine, Mike. I don't need anyone to watch over me twenty-four-seven, contrary to what I'm sure is becoming popular opinion. I am not fragile or helpless, you know." Vaughn silently came forward and sat down on the edge of Liz's bed, his voice warm and sincere. "I know. And I'm not here to babysit." Breaking normal protocol, Mike reached out and covered Liz's hand as she continued to nervously pick at her comforter. "I'm here to be a friend. Maybe keep your mind off things. So, talk or don't talk. Cry or don't cry. Scream or don't scream. If anyone understands holding it all in because of fear…" Vaughn paused as his voice softened empathetically. "Well…you're not alone any more." Liz's eyes met his. "I know." She smiled at the truth she saw in his eyes and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear as she pulled her knees up to her chest. "Thanks for that." Nodding, Mike smiled back, flashing Liz his famous dimples before donning a mock serious expression. "That doesn't mean I'm going to let you laze around all day, missy. We have work to do." Vaughn jumped off Liz's bed and clapped his hands together, a raised eyebrow of expectation quirked toward Liz. She shook her head in confusion. "And that’s supposed to mean what exactly? It is Saturday you know." Hands landing on his hips, a look of disgust crossed his expression as his gaze swept over her. "It means you'd better get yourself looking at least half-way presentable. I'm not going to be seen in public with…" Sweeping his hand in the air over her, Mike shook his head. "…**this**." Liz cracked a smile. "I'll bet Eric wouldn't mind." Vaughn's face split into a grin. "Ah, so you finally bought a clue and figured out my partner is deep in crush with you." "Yeah, it kinda hit me after he's pursued an uncalled for kissing portion of our upcoming play. Several times. Unsuccessfully, I might add." Liz's smile drifted as her eyes dulled with concern. "He's a great guy, Mike. I don't want to hurt him. I'm just not…available. On so many levels." "Don't worry about Eric. He knows the score, ok? He knows you're not going through all of this trouble…" "Just for the fun of it?" Liz queried, her gaze lowering. She let out a sigh and ran her fingers through her hair. "God, Mike, I'm so confused. I have absolutely no idea where to go from here with Max." "You really care about him." It was more of a statement than a question. "Enough to want to be with him." Liz nodded. "Despite the risk." Vaughn added quietly. A bittersweet smile touched Liz's lips. "**That** is the million dollar question." Her voice lowered in a soft confession. "And I have no idea what the answer is." Shaking her head, a harsh chuckle escaped her. "You know, I was going along just fine. I knew what I needed, what I wanted, to keep myself and the people I love safe. And then Max burst into my life. This big, beautiful bundle of spontaneous contradictions that I simply wasn't prepared for." "We rarely are prepared for love when it comes, Liz. The best and truest usually hits us when we least expect it." Vaughn ventured quietly. "Is this love, Mike?" Liz asked suddenly and unexpectedly. "See, I wouldn't know. No one has ever really loved me before. Except Jaedan and Angel. And they are miracles in and of themselves. But romantically, as a woman…Chris was the first man I ever dated. I think it's safe to say that wasn't love. Sean Graham…he never really knew me. I never let him. So whatever was between us…it was convenience so I didn't have to be alone, but it wasn't love either. So, how do I know, Michael? How can I be sure what this is between Max and me?" Vaughn sat back down on Liz's bed. "I guess the first question to ask is how does he make you feel?" "Well…" Sighing, she pushed her hair back behind her shoulders and continued. "…with Max…I know I feel something…powerful…when I'm with him. He knows me, Mike. He knows me at times, I think, better than I know me. I can't stand the thought of him being with anyone else, but I want him to be happy. As much as I wish I could be that person, I know that I can't. If he stays near me, I'll only end up causing him pain. I know as terrified as I am of getting closer to him, I'm just as terrified that he'll walk away." "A large part of me wants him to just so he'll be safe. But…he's changing me, Mike. He's changing me in a way…" Her eyes drifted closed. "…I only feel truly safe…deep inside…when he's with me. How absurd is that? Feeling anything for this man is risky and reckless and trouble with a capital 'T'. He's the very man that can bring danger right back into the center of my life, not only physically but emotionally. But he's also the one man that makes me feel invincible against it all." "But you're not." Vaughn's statement commanded Liz's attention. A slight shake of his head and worry edging his eyes, Vaughn continued. "You're not, Liz. That note last night proved it. Someone knows who you are. They know where you are. Max can't change that. And unless you're willing to pick up and move again…to live your life constantly on the run…" "No. No, I don't want to do that." Liz interrupted as fierce determination flashed through her eyes. "That would mean even more separation from Jaedan and I will not do that to her." "Alright, fine." Vaughn's gentle agreement eased the storm that appeared to be brewing. "Then you have to be as prepared as you can be for whatever comes. Even if that means real love with Max Evans." Letting out a sigh of resignation, Liz's dark eyes met Vaughn's in a silent plea. Reading her look, Vaughn switched topics without missing a beat. "How are you on personal safety?" "What? You mean self defense?" At Vaughn's nod, Liz shrugged. "Angel's taught me some things. I know how to shoot. I know some karate. I could hold my own against you." Vaughn's grin was challenging. "You think so huh?" Liz's eyes lit up as a grin began to tug at the corners of her mouth. "I know so." "Fine." Grabbing the robe Liz had draped over a nearby chair, Vaughn tossed it to her. "Get up and be ready in fifteen minutes." With that command he headed toward the door when Liz's question caused him to pause. "Wait. Where are we going?" Vaughn wiggled his eyebrows as a teasing smile lit his eyes. "To a place, my dear friend, where I am going to watch you eat those words…" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "How many will there be?" Phillip Evans finally broke his silence after hearing Max explain the newest developments in Liz's situation and his plan to counteract them. "Four. Two men, two women." Max answered. "They trade off every four hours so everyone can stay sharp. It'll only be for a few days then I'll move Angel and Jaedan to an undisclosed location. The guards can stay in a couple of the guest chalets behind the house. Jaedan will only see the women who I will introduce to her myself. The men will be taking care of tech and the perimeter. They'll report to me every two hours unless, of course, there's a problem." Max paused his eyes meeting his father's. "Now, all of this depends on your permission, dad. I don't want to put you and mom in danger…" "Let me take care of your mother. That is not your priority, Max. Jaedan and Liz are." Phillip stated before deferring to Angel with a nod. "Since Jaedan's your responsibility, Angel, what do you think?" Angel let out a sigh and pursed her lips in thought. "Sounds like all the bases are covered." Her eyes met Max's. "Liz knows nothing about this, does she?" "No." "Don't you think it'd be wise to…" "No." Max interrupted Angel's question before she got to finish it. "I don't want her more worried than she probably already is." A small, wry smile touched Angel's lips. "You could lock Jaedan up in the highest tower of the most remote castle. There could be ten moats and a hundred fire-breathing dragons and every other available security measure in play and Liz will still worry about her little girl, Max. It might actually help her to know you've taken appropriate steps to protect her." "You think I don't want to assure her Jaedan's going to be safe? That I don't want to tell her what's going on? Believe me, I've struggled with this decision all the way up here. It all came down to one question: how exactly do I explain what I'm doing, Angel?" Max asked with a helpless shrug. "I'd have to reveal a past I've been sworn not to divulge not to mention one that I don't particularly relish. Beyond that, if I tell her my real fear…she will go ballistic. You know she will." "Liz is stronger than you think." "Oh, I’m not so sure about that." Max commented prompting a raised eyebrow from Angel that he quickly explained away. "I already think she is by far the strongest woman I have ever met and perhaps to have ever walked the earth. In so many ways, she's stronger than even me. I have no doubt she could handle this situation right along side of me." "But…" Angel prompted. "But she shouldn't have to." Max stated with determination as he leaned forward his eyes locking with Angel's. "This is my enemy, Angel. He's coming after me. It's my fight." "Even so, Max, he's beginning to use Liz and Jaedan as the weapons…" "Not after tonight." Phillip cleared his throat. "Son, what exactly are planning on doing?" Max met his father's eyes and shook his head deliberately. "I can't say, dad. Just know I'm taking care of it as soon as I leave here." "Are you sure that's wise?" Phillip asked as worry edged his voice. "Max, you look absolutely beat." "I'm fine." His voice was curt and defensive. "When's the last time you got a full night's sleep?" Angel asked, quickly catching Phillip's concern. Max shrugged and let out a short, frustrated sigh. "I…don't know. Look, it really doesn't matter…" "It does if you're making major decisions or putting your life in danger on little to no sleep." Angel countered. "Think what it will do to Liz and Jaedan if something happens to you because you didn't take the time to think…" "Angel." Max's eyes snapped up to meet hers angrily. "They are all I've been thinking about since I spoke with my contact. I'm not putting this off. I will not let Darian Wolfe think he can start playing games with the people I love. He needs to get that message…" Standing, Max's determination came through loud and clear. "…and he's going to get it tonight." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Kyle…" Alex looked at the computer screen as it rapidly ran through a program. As he watched the numbers in the center of the screen rapidly decreasing, he shook his head, a grin spreading over his face. "…there are times even I must admit your brilliance rivals the sun." Kyle raised an offended eyebrow. "Only times?" "Don't push it." Alex chuckled and leaned back in his chair. "Seriously, man, this was a great idea." Mirroring Alex, Kyle leaned back as well as a blanket of arrogance covered him. "Of course." Pursing his lips, Alex drifted to his monitor once more. "So how exactly did you get these confidential medical records?” “Well, I started by convincing McKenna she needed to look as much like her old self.” Grinning deviously, Kyle’s eyes danced with delight. “For Max, of course.” Alex responded with a knowing smile. “But of course.” Kyle let out a satisfactory sigh. “Then I took her to the doc today. He did all of the x-rays, labs, pictures and whatever else he’ll need to do the surgery. After taking her home for a much needed evening of rest, I headed back to the doc's office. He happens to be a very good friend of the family so getting the records wasn't really that big of a problem.” Pointing to the files he’d place on Alex’s desk, Kyle nodded. “Of course, I’ll need those back so I can slip them back to him tomorrow.” Tossing the files toward Kyle, Alex chuckled as he glanced back at his screen. “With the way this new composite program is working I’ll say this is going to be our first major break through in figuring out just exactly who McKenna is.” “And exactly what happened to her.” “And who she’s really working for.” Alex added before shifting his gaze back to a list lying on the center of his desk. “So, you really think one of these guys did it huh?" "Had to." Kyle answered with a shrug. "Unless she had her own personal Dr. Frankenstein hiding in the closet. Which is a distinct possibility." Propping his feet up on Alex's desk, Kyle locked his hands behind his head. "But given the time frame we're talking about here, this list represents the available plastic surgeons in that area that could have possibly given McKenna her new identity. We find out which one, and we just might be able find out who footed the bill and trace it back to her source." "Right.” Alex nodded. “Ok, so, let’s go over the facts as we know them. First…we know Max saw McKenna the night before the mission." "Sure did." Kyle agreed before continuing. "For that matter, we all saw her at the club that night. And she was the real deal. I don’t think any of us could argue that.” “No, we can’t.” Alex commented before tracking their movements from that fateful time in their life. “So then the very next morning we headed out. The night of the mission, Max was captured. We went in early morning to get him out…" "That’s when we found out McKenna was also inside being held as a bargaining chip to get Max to crumble." "Which he didn't…" "Right. But that didn't matter because she was shot anyway." Kyle let out a sigh as he came to a conclusion. "So, we're pretty much talking about twenty four to forty eight hours here where she could have staged her own kidnapping and death.” "Looks like it." Alex agreed before his eyes narrowed in thought. Kyle instantly noticed. "What?" "What if it wasn't McKenna." Kyle let out a hrmph and shrugged. “Well, that **is** the story she’s floating…” “No, I mean, what if she’s really telling the truth about that?” Alex’s relaxed position changed as the new thought took hold of him. “We've been going on the assumption that McKenna was really the one in the warehouse and that the shooting itself was a set up to make us all believe she was dead. But what if…there really was another woman that was really shot.” “Come on, Alex. We’ve gone over that theory. It doesn’t wash because of Max, remember? He actually identified her body. Held her in his arms…” “Right. But Max had also been drugged as well as beaten. No telling what kind other torture he’d been through. And there was blood. A lot of blood.” “So you’re saying…” Tapping his finger on the top of his chaotic desk, Alex emphasized his idea. “McKenna waits till we leave the morning of the mission then she disappears till the fall out happens while an innocent girl, a very good facsimile of McKenna, is kidnapped and killed in her place.” “With McKenna’s knowledge?” Alex shrugged. “Why not? She’s already tried to kill Liz once already. She's responsible for the deaths of seven agents. Those are only the ones we know of. Why be squeamish about setting someone up to be killed if it serves her purposes.” “Well…that’s true.” Face scrunching up in uncertainty, Kyle shook his head. “I don’t know. Doesn’t really explain why go to such lengths.” “Think about it, Kyle.” Alex paused a moment before putting his theory on the table. “McKenna’s commissioned by…we don’t know who yet…to infiltrate the Stars and destroy us. Her initial contact with us is as Nate’s long lost sister who had seen once when he was a kid. Next she works her way into Max’s heart, creates more friction then there had ever been between the two…” “Yeah, but they’d come to an understanding.” Alex held up a finger interrupting Kyle. “Precisely why she needed a dramatic conclusion to her mission. Nate had already started questioning her about a few childhood issues that didn’t make sense to him so she wouldn’t be able to keep up the ‘sister’ pretense forever. She’d never really intended to actually marry Max…” “Well, now, I’m not so sure about that one.” Kyle interjected. “She seems rather…fixated…on being Max’s fiancee’.” “Then she’s going to have to take a number.” Alex quipped absently as his gaze shifted to the monitor after an alerting beep caught his attention. Kyle’s brows furrowed at Alex’s comment. “Take a number? What are you…” Alex let out a low whistle as he motioned Kyle to his side of the desk. “Get a load of this.” Kyle’s eyes widened as he came around Alex’s desk and stared at the screen. “Whoa." Nodding to the screen, Alex began to explain. "Based on the bone structure in her x-rays and medical records these are the possible facial composites McKenna could potentially use." "How many of those match known intelligence suspects?" Alex clicked a few buttons on the keyboard and waited for a new screen to pop up. "Ten. Of course, these don't include standard disguise tactics. This is purely biological." "We have the DNA on any of them?" Having anticipated Kyle's next question, Alex had already begun punching in commands. A few more moments of silence then a new figure appeared on the screen. "Five possible matches." "Five." Kyle repeated before a low whistle signal his awe of the latest technology. "Any names we recognize?" The printer immediately began working to spit out a list of potential suspects Kyle and Alex eagerly poured over. "Can we run these profiles through the system…" "I'll get on it right away." Alex answered before Kyle finished. "It'll take a while, but if McKenna uses even one signature action in her work…a particular gun, a certain kind of bullet, even a favorite type of hotel…we'll find it." Kyle nodded then folded the list up and stuck it in his pocket. "Good. Until then, I’m heading out check on McKenna. Tomorrow's the operation…" "Really think it's going to work?" Alex asked as he leaned back in his chair. "Think she'll look like she did before?" Kyle shrugged. "I really don't give a damn. I just wanted her records for profiling." He paused his eyes meeting Alex's. "For the first time since this started, Alex, I really think we have a chance of finding the truth." Alex let out a sigh and nodded. "Yeah. Especially now that we've got another under cover in the field." Kyle nodded. "How's that going?" Alex shrugged. "He's not been able to contact us, but Steve's on it. They're meeting tonight before Steve heads to LA to see Max." "Steve's going to see Max?" Alex cracked a wide smile as his blue eyes danced with genuine delight. "Yeah. It's a uh…" Kyle rolled his eyes. "Oh, no. Don't tell me he's going to pull something on Liz." Alex burst into laughter as he nodded his head. To which Kyle immediately planted himself in the chair opposite Alex's desk. "Alright, pal. Spill the beans. What exactly is my little brother up to and just how pissed is Liz Parker going to be when she finds out?" Another burst of laughter was all the answer Kyle Evans needed to know this tale was going to be a wild one. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hands on her hips, Liz looked down at Vaughn. He was sprawled out on his back. On the floor. Panting to catch his breath. Tilting her head to the side, Liz was the picture of innocence. "You said something about eating my words?" Vaughn groaned as he eased himself into a sitting position. "Where the hell did you learn to kick like that?" A playful smile danced on Liz's lips. "Good move, wasn't it?" "Uh…yeah." Vaughn's tone was incredulous. Until his eyes narrowed. "Oh, wait. I get it. Angel's not the only one who's taught you a few things, is she?" Liz's face was a blank. "I have no idea what you mean." "Sydney. As in Bristow." An admiring light danced in Mike's eyes. " That woman can kick some serious…" "Liz! Mike!" Eric Weiss entered the CIA gym from a side door, clearly not in the mood for working out. "I've been looking all over for you two. A group of us are going out to a club. Did you want to come?" Liz's face scrunched up in disinterest. "I'm not really a club kinda girl." Eric's face fell. "Oh." An idea hit him and he instantly lit up. "But you have to come tomorrow night though. It's a must." "Tomorrow?" Liz glanced curiously from Eric to Mike then back again. "Why is it a must?" "Because it's his birthday." Vaughn informed Liz as he slowly got off the floor. "Every year we go to his favorite club and…" Scrunching up his face, Vaughn rolled his eyes. "…we do karaoke." Eric grinned widely as he slapped Vaughn on the shoulder. "Best present I get every year is watching this guy get totally sloshed then stand up in front of everyone and sing a Britney Spears song." Liz burst into laughter. "Britney?" She winked at Vaughn. "Big fan, are ya?" "Yeah, yeah, yeah…laugh now. What he failed to mention is Birthday Boy here gets to choose the song as he pushes you kicking and screaming up on stage." Vaughn waved his hands dismisively in the air as he began to put equipment he and Liz had used into a cabinet near the wall. "Wait till he gets you up there. He'll probably make you sing…" Vaughn paused as a thoughtful expression crossed his face. "…well, actually, you could sing…you." "Oh no. No, no, no." Liz began shaking her head emphatically as she saw Eric's eyes light up with delight. "I don't do stages any more." Eric clasped his hands in front of him, dropped to one knee in front of Liz and turned pleading eyes upward. "Oh, please. Just…one itty, bitty song." He batted his long lashes. "For me. It **is** my birthday. And I **am** giving you a pretty fabulous pretend boyfriend on Monday." Sudden wickedness danced in Liz's eyes as she glanced toward an unsuspecting, busy Vaughn. A dark eyebrow raised as she tried to keep laughter out of her voice. "One condition. Make Mike sing I'm Not a Girl." Vaughn turned toward them as Eric nearly fell over with a loud burst of laughter. His eyes narrowed suspiciously. And when Liz Parker doubled over in a fit of giggles, Michael Vaughn got a sneaking suspicion he was in serious trouble… ~~~~~~~~~~~~ After a somewhat frantic search inside the house for one missing-in-action child, one of Max's guards informed him that Jaedan could be found in the tree house. Max stood at the bottom staring up and wincing against the sobs he heard coming from above. He quickly ascended the rope ladder and pushed open the trap door in the tree house floor. Popping his head up through the door, Max quickly found her sitting in the far corner. Her knees were pulled up to her chest and her head was buried in her arms as tears shook her tiny body. "Jaedan? Honey, why are you crying?" Through her sniffles and sobs, Max could barely make out her words. "Cuz no body…wants ta…play wiff me. Everybody's…always leafin'…me…all the time." "Jaedan…" Max pulled himself through the door and closed it behind him before moving to sit in front of his littlest princess. He reached out and smoothed her hair reassuringly. "…sweetie, you know that's not true." She lifted her tear-streaked face. "Uh-huh. I don't got no daddy cuz he lefted me and my mommy went bye-bye and then you did and then Kendall did and then you did again and now…" Her lips began to quiver and her eyes filled with new tears. "…and now you're gonna leaf again even though you just gotted here. I just hearded you say you was." "Ohh, sweetheart…" Max pulled Jaedan into his arms and gave her a tight hug. "…I love you so much. I don't think you'll ever know just how much." Jaedan pulled back and looked into Max's eyes, her own full of sadness and confusion. "Then how come ya gonna leaf me again?" Max took a deep breath and settled Jaedan on his lap before leaning forward and planting a tender kiss on the top of her head. When he spoke his voice was soft and conspiratorial. "I'm going to tell you a secret, ok? It's a very, very important secret and you can't tell anyone that I've told you." Max pulled back to look into Jaedan's eyes as he pushed wayward strands of hair behind her ears. "Do you remember when we first met and you told me your mommy was out fighting the Evil Wizard?" Jaedan sniffled and nodded. "Well…" Max took another deep breath. "…I know who the Evil Wizard is now." "You do?" The fear in Jaedan's widened eyes filtered into her voice. "Is he…is he gonna hurt my mommy?" "No." Max shook his head emphatically as he tilted her face upward so she could see the truth of his words in his eyes. "Listen to me, Jaedan. He is not going to hurt her or you or Grandnanny. Not if I can stop him." Pausing, Max's gaze met Jaedan's meaningfully as his voice lowered. "But…honey, for me to do that, I have to go where he is. Which makes me really sad because I want to stay with you and play. I love you so very much and we always have so much fun, but if I stay, I can't help mommy fight the Evil Wizard." Max paused to let his words sink into Jaedan's tender heart before making her part of the solution. "So, I have a decision to make. And I need you to help me make it. Either I stay with you and make sure you don't cry any more…and that you have a Princess Day…or I find the Evil Wizard and make sure he doesn't hurt your mommy." Watching her expression very carefully, Max paused once more before asking his question. "So, Princess, which do you think I should do?" It only took Jaedan a matter of seconds to react. Wiping the tears off her face, Jaedan sniffled one last time and sat up straight as she turned her large doe eyes on Max. "You gotta go stop the Evil Wizard so he won't hurt my mommy. I's ok now. See?" She shook her head causing her pony tails to dance in the air as a bright smile lit her face. "I's not cryin' any more. And mommy needs you more 'an me. She needs you to make all of her monst'rs go bye-bye now just like you do for me." Max fought the smile threatening to break out on his face and the tears prickling his eyes. "Are you sure?" "Uh-huh. I's got Papa and Nana and Grandnanny but mommy doesn't got nobody." Nodding her head emphatically, Jaedan took Max's hand in her tiny ones. "You gotta pwromise to be weally, weally careful, k? Cuz I don't know how much more magic potion mommy has. She maybe can't give you any if you have to fight the Evil Wizard." Max couldn't stop the smile that softened his eyes. "Oh, sweetheart…" He leaned forward and brushed his lips against Jaedan's forehead before pulling back to look into her sweet, innocent, believing face. "…don't you know? Mommy's magic potion…that thing that keeps her so safe for you…that's love, honey. And now, because of you…I have more than enough magic potion to keep both mommy and me safe." As Max continued, a solemn promise was forged in the old walls of a childhood hideout. "And I promise you that your mommy and I are going to destroy the Evil Wizard and slay all of our dragons and make all of our monsters go bye-bye. And once we do, we're going to be together, Jaedan. And once we are, no one's going to leave you ever again…" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Day 3: Sunday 2 am Bogota, Columbia Darian Wolfe's compound The click of a gun echoed in the pitch black room with the force of a cannon. Nate Carter's eyes snapped open. "I hear you sold your soul to the devil and got a brand new boss." A familiar voice rasped steely and hard close to his ear as the cold steel pressed against his temple. "I hope you've enjoyed working for Darian Wolfe because you've got exactly five seconds to give me a reason not to pull this trigger and end what I can only assume is a pact of pure evil." Nate swallowed hard, his eyes snapping to the face hovering close to his. "Max. It's not what you think." Max Evans pressed the gun into Nate's temple emphasizing his seriousness. "Try again." "You know I always knew you were crazy. This just confirms it." Nate's hand slowly inched toward the pillow next to him where he concealed his own weapon each night. "Not a good thing to say to a man with a loaded gun." Max shot back heatedly before a harsh command flowed instantly after. "Move your hand one more centimeter and I'll blow it off." Nate instantly stilled. "Hands in the air." Nate complied. Knowing his former associate well, Max answered the unspoken questions racing through his mind. "If you think the guards in this place are going to come to the rescue, you should know…they've all been knocked out cold and tied up rather well, if I do say so myself. And as this place is so conveniently secluded, help is miles upon miles away. It's a good thing your new master, Darian, left the grounds earlier or my mission would be entirely different right now." "Different how?" Nate inquired as beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. "Killing a defenseless man is still murder whether its your sworn enemy or one of your own team." Max flashed Nate a devious grin. "Ah, but one would be necessary. The other…pure pleasure." Nate swallowed hard. "Am I supposed to guess which one I would be." "You could try, but I doubt you'd get it right." A voice from the shadows interrupted Max's interrogation. "Max. Lower the gun." Max's head snapped up and his eyes widened in surprise as the owner of the voice stepped from the shadows into the light streaming through the window. The moonlight fell on his face. And on the gun he held in his hand pointed straight at Max. Max's eyes narrowed. "Steve. What is this? You're on his side now?" Steve shook his head, his gray eyes meeting Max's. "No. I’m on yours. And believe it or not…" He nodded toward Nate. "…so is he." A wry, disbelieving smile touched Max's lips as his gaze shifted from Steve to Nate then back again. Taking one step back, Max nodded but kept his firearm trained on Nate. Both men knew the stance of their leader. Both men knew he was giving them one chance to prove themselves. To make him believe…or suffer the consequences. They were right. "Alright. You've both got one chance. Five minutes." Max's eyes met Steve's. "So help me God, this had better be good…" Tbc… |
| posted on 15-Aug-2002 5:56:07 AM by Ashton |
| Hey all...
Here's the next part. Hope you enjoy! Would love to hear what you think as always. Thanks sooo much for the constant support! Time Will Tell will probably be out next so you don't get too bored! ;)
Behrhugs, Ashton ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ chapter 16 ~ Day 2: Sunday 4:30 pm Liz sat in her car just…staring. Her palms were sweaty. Her gaze was unfocused. Her heart, racing a mile a minute. She wasn't quite sure how she ended up outside Max's door. One moment she'd been pacing relentlessly in front of Michael in her apartment. The next, she was…staring at the closed doors of a renovated firehouse. It all started when Sydney came home from her mission to find Vaughn sitting on her couch… Sydney's hard gaze landed on Vaughn as he glanced up at her hopefully. "Interesting." Mike's face immediately fell. Liz noticed the obvious coolness emanating from her roommate and her other friend's apparent, sudden discomfort. Since Vaughn didn't seem to want to pursue whatever it was Sydney meant, Liz did it for him. "What's interesting?" Dropping her luggage behind the couch, Sydney crossed her arms in front of her and slowly came around to where Liz was standing. She answered Liz though it was clear the real person she was addressing was sitting on the couch, his gaze boring a hole into the hardwood floor. "Well, you see, Liz…protocol only seems to be mandatory in certain circumstances. Secret Agent Man here can come see you anytime he wants, but if I'm the object of the visit, we have to meet in a warehouse." Ignoring the implication of her caustic comment, Vaughn's gaze snapped up to meet Sydney's. He opened his mouth to answer then clamped it shut as he re-thought his words. Certainly 'I don't love Liz, I love you' wouldn't help him win his apparently on-going argument with Sydney. His eyes met hers with determination. "Syd…you know everything I said the other night was true." "What I know, Michael Vaughn, is that you…" Sydney's eyebrow raised as her next words shocked Liz perhaps even more than Vaughn. "…are a coward." Liz's mouth dropped open. Her gaze shifted from Sydney to Vaughn where her heart immediately began to ache for him at the pain that flashed through his eyes. Vaughn's gaze lowered as he slowly stood. "Look. I know we had a disagreement about…" Vaughn stilled his words, painfully aware that the object of their difference of opinion was standing in the very room with them. He tried a different tactic. "I'm sorry you can't see my point of view. I only hope it doesn't cause you to make rash decisions that will put the lives of people we both care about in danger." Swallowing hard, Vaughn attempted a smile in Liz's direction. "Since you're covered now, I'm going to head out. I'll pick you up for the party tonight…" Sensing Sydney stiffen next to her, Liz hastened to stop Vaughn's offer. "Actually, Mike, I'm sure I can find my own way…" Vaughn shook his head, the determination in his voice firm. "I will pick you up at 7:30." His gaze slipped over to Sydney, who suddenly refused to look at him. Letting out a sigh, Mike nodded to Liz then left Sydney with one last commanding comment. "I expect debriefing in an hour. The usual place." The moment the front door closed behind him, Liz turned to Sydney with concern. "Sydney, what…just happened?" For the first time since meeting her, Liz Parker watched as Sydney Bristow's eyes filled with tears. She flopped onto the couch and let out a frustrated sigh, while blinking rapidly. "That man is so infuriating. We had a…disagreement…the other night. He says nobody can have it all. That safety is more important than love. But for some reason that only seems to apply to me..." “Oh. I see.” Liz slipped onto the couch next to her and reassuringly touched her arm. “This…disagreement. It had to do with Max and me didn’t it?” Sydney shrugged. “Maybe a little. At first. But that wasn’t all it was about and it certainly isn’t why he’s so…” Unable to find the proper word, Sydney’s denouncement ended in a frustrated sigh. Nodding in understanding, Liz’s soft comment only seemed to add to Sydney’s aggravation. “Mike just doesn't want to lose you, Syd." Sydney's gaze snapped up to Liz, the sarcasm thick. "I'm sure he doesn't. Wouldn't look too good on his record, now would it." "Syd.” Liz gave her a pointed look. “He doesn't want to lose **you**." Smiling meaningfully, Liz continued with a shrug. "Come on. Do you really think he likes hanging out here because I'm such great company? Especially this weekend?" Shaking her head, Liz grinned and lowered her voice conspiratorially. "I've been driving him crazy." "You have?" Sydney’s eyes began to brighten for the first time since her return home. "Yeah." Nodding emphatically, Liz tucked her feet under her and pushed her hair back from her face. "Yesterday he attempted to teach me self-defense. He got a reeeally good view of the ceiling since he was on his back most of the 'training' session." "Good for you." Sydney giggled. "Did you use that move I taught you?" Eyes twinkling devilishly, Liz nodded. "Sure did. Oh, and then, not five minutes ago I'm positive, if it were humanly possible, he was ready to flush me down the toilet." "Why?" "Because I was pacing rather relentlessly and mumbling under my breath. Again." Liz chuckled. “He hates being left out of a conversation, especially if you’re determined to have it only with yourself.” Sydney's brows furrowed. "Why were you pacing?" "Well, you see…” Giving Sydney one of those ‘I know. I know’ looks, Liz let out a mortified sigh and squeezed her eyes shut anticipating the amount of teasing Sydney would heap upon her once she heard the truth. “I've not heard from Max since Friday afternoon. Which makes me a bit…antsy." "Ah." Sydney commented with a knowing twinkle in her eyes but without the expected volley of jokes. Clearly Sydney Bristow was distracted. Liz assumed it was by a certain CIA handler who obviously had her attention more than she wanted to admit. In truth, Sydney’s mind instantly jumped to the night Max left for parts unknown. He'd given no indication where he was going, when or if he'd be back. The way her father, and even Vaughn, was so sure that Max was in some kind of danger, that it would be best for Liz to forget him…well, it left Sydney a bit uneasy about the whole situation. Not to mention Max’s reaction when he heard the name Darian Wolfe. Sydney silently debated the urge to tell Liz everything she knew about why Max hadn't been in contact. Part of her believed it was only fair that Liz be told everything. With the truth as her weapon, she just might be able to defend herself and the people she loved. On the other hand, the other part of her knew and understood just how dangerous the truth could really be. Her mind screamed to keep her mouth shut. Her heart wanted to tell the truth. Just like she had with Danny. Danny. Her fiance. Her **murdered** fiance… With a split second of indecision, caution, protocol and Vaughn’s warning to her eventually won. Syd rolled her eyes and attempted to sound much more sure about Max's whereabouts than she really was. "Well, from what you've told me about him, he's probably off raiding a corporation or planning a major coupe de ta that will render you helpless against his massive amount of charm." “Massive amount of charm, my foot.” Liz rolled her eyes. “Much more like irritating, persistent, obnoxious, arrogant…” Letting her list of quality traits Max Evans possessed only on occasion, Liz let out a sigh her final description a mere whisper. “…amazing.” Sobering, her gaze lowered as she began to bite down on her lower lip. "You know…I had this really weird dream the other night." "Yeah?" Liz nodded, her eyes softening as she hugged a pillow to her chest. "I dreamed that Max was in my room. He was holding my hand, kissing me. He begged me to wait for him. That he had to go away for a while to protect me, but it wouldn't be forever and that he'd come back to me." Letting out a worried sigh, Liz shifted uncomfortably. "Ever since then I've had this…feeling…that he's in trouble." "Hmmm. Sounds kinda…soulmatey to me." Sydney purposefully teased in an effort to keep Liz’s mind from wandering down the right path for too long. Liz rolled her eyes again. "Right. Max Evans and me…soulmates. I seriously doubt it." Sensing her chance to shift the conversation back to Sydney's point of obvious contention, Liz cast her a sideways glance. "Unlike you and Vaughn. Yeah, I see some serious soulmate potential there." It was Sydney's turn to roll her eyes. "Right. Which is why I'm meeting him in a cold, dark warehouse in forty-five minutes while he's been lounging around here all cuddly and warm with you the entire weekend." "Hey." Liz hit Sydney with her pillow. "We were not all cuddly and don't you even go there because Mike and I sure aren't." Catching Sydney's smile of relief, Liz's smile deepened as she let her in on a secret. "I think he's in love with you, Syd. You're like…**all** he talks about. He likes being here because this is your home. It's the closest he can get to being with you without actually…being with you. I'm just his excuse." "In…love with me?" Sinking back into the cushions of the couch, Sydney let out a deep sigh as she allowed Liz's suggestion to sink into her heart. She had to admit it wasn't the first time the thought had crossed her mind. But Vaughn was her handler. He'd never made any advances and any that she had attempted to make, he had gently but firmly rebuffed. She voiced the glaring question that had kept her from actually believing her own imagination. "If…that's true, and I'm not saying it is…but **if** it is, I can't understand why he won't say something then." "Because he's scared of what he's feeling. Of rejection. Of not being rejected and where exactly that would lead the two of you. He’s scared for you.” Liz answered slowly. "Like I am for Max. It's like there's this invisible line that once it's crossed, there's no going back. Mike is dancing as close to that line as possible without actually stepping over it. If anyone understands that, it's me." Sydney's sympathetic gaze met Liz's. "How are you doing with that? Any new revelations on the Max front?" Liz shook her head. "Nope. I'm just as confused as ever." A small, amused smile played on her lips. "Just like Mike is." Eyes brightening with an idea, Liz glanced at the clock. "Hey. You said you have forty-five minutes, right? Why don't we find a way to warm up that cold warehouse and maybe clear up his confusion a bit…" Sydney’s eyes narrowed warily as she stared at her suddenly animated roommate. "What are you thinking?" "I'm thinking…." Liz jumped off the couch and grabbed Sydney's hands pulling her upward. "…you've got a date to get ready for…" After Sydney had left for her meeting with Vaughn, Liz had found herself pacing once more. Her thoughts never drifted to Max because they had already taken up permanent residence on that particular topic. Which is probably why she was sitting outside his firehouse. Actually, it was more because of the delivery that had appeared at her door only moments before she raced to her car and sped through almost every yellow light in L.A. A poem. One page. Beautifully written in handwriting now so familiar to her. As her eyes slipped over the carefully chosen words, a melody began to play in the back of her mind… I don't mean to be the teardrop spilling over your resentments Don't intend to be the cry with which you voice your discontentment Don't want to be a picture fading slowly from your memory Don't intend to be a shadow simply darkening your passage Only want to lose myself behind the mirror of your eyes Be the only balm that soothes the secret passions in your life Only want to lose my senses, lose your sorrow, calm this madness Be the only one you count on to alleviate your sadness I'll steal your heart and set it free Tear down the walls that would surround you I may hold you close to me But these ties will never bind you I don't mean to be the fire that's igniting your temptations Don't intend to be the sword that runs you through with adoration I don't want to be a whisper my emotions wrapped in silence Don't intend to be the shout reminding you that time is priceless Only want to be the wind that lifts you high above the ground Living only to unleash that sacred powers that we've found Only want to breathe your essence to your comfort Fill with laughter every moment that we live from this day on forever after I'll steal your heart and set it free So free I'm sure it will astound you Without my love you'll never be In some way I'll always find you I'll steal your heart and set it free Tear down the walls that would surround you I may hold you close to me But these ties will never bind you That was the real reason she was sitting outside Max Evans’ door. He'd inspired music to flow through her heart. Again. She just wanted…no, needed…to see him. To look in his eyes. See his smile. Hear his laughter. Taking a deep breath, Liz forced herself to open the door of her car and step out into the warm California sun. Running over her cover story one more time, Liz advanced to the front door. She took one more deep breath. Her hand raised to knock. The door flew open before she got a chance. Liz blinked in shock at the sight that greeted her. "Oh. Hi." The attractive blonde tilted her head to the side, her blue eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Yes? May I help you?" Quickly taking in her appearance, Liz's stomach felt like someone had just slammed a giant fist into it. About ten times. And her heart…something powerful was gripping it with cold, death-like fingers. The woman standing before her was dressed in nothing more than a man's blue jean shirt that came to the middle of her thighs. Her curly hair was wet from a recent shower and it was clear Liz was keeping her from something important. Shaking herself out of the haze of jealousy and panic that quickly descended around her, Liz thanked the stars she was wearing her sunglasses and that the wind was blowing her hair in her face, hiding her features. Clearing her throat, she attempted a bright smile. She could only guess how weak it really looked. A quick story popped into her mind. "Hi. I'm Sam Rivers from the local school board. We're doing a survey…" The woman looked down her nose at Liz with disdain. "I'm not interested in anything having to do with little people. So, whatever you're trying to sell, you can just…" Waving a well manicured hand, she tossed her blonde curls. "…go bug someone else." Liz sighed deep inside and donned an appropriately crestfallen expression. "Oh. Well, sorry to have bothered you." Quickly turning on her heels, Liz began a beeline straight for her car when the woman called out to her. "Hey, you. Wait." Plastering a smile on her face, Liz turned around slowly and prayed the woman ensconced in Max's doorway wouldn't recognize her. Forcing hopefulness into her expression, Liz pushed fear out of her eyes. "Yes?" "Do I…know you from somewhere?" Liz's calculating smile widened. Her head shook. "No, no I don't think so." The woman took a step forward, her arms crossed in front of her. "Are you sure? You look so familiar." Liz shrugged nonchalantly. "I must have one of those faces." There was an uncomfortable pause. "Well, I'd better moving on…" "My boyfriend, Max Evans, might be interested in your survey." The implication hung in the air between the two women an obvious fishing expedition on the part of Max's self-proclaimed girlfriend. Flashing a smile, Liz forced herself not to react to his name or the jealousy suddenly coursing through her. "Well, then, I'll put his name down for someone to come back later then. What did you say it was again?" Her blue eyes narrowed once more. "Max Evans. Ever heard of him?" Shaking her head, Liz shrugged once more. "Nope. Can't say that I have." Clearing her throat, she began walking backwards. "Well, thanks again." Refusing to breathe, Liz could feel the woman's piercing stare on her back the entire walk to her car. How Liz made it to her car with calm, steady steps she would never be able to explain. How she slipped into her car without one single fumble or panicked movement was beyond reason. How she managed to not peel out of the driveway when everything in her screamed to press the accelerator all the way to the floor and keep driving forever was a complete miracle. She didn't stop till she made it home. Then, with shaking hands, she rushed into the apartment and grabbed up the nearest phone, frantically punching in a well-used number. Pacing while the phone rang, Liz stopped abruptly when she heard the familiar voice on the other end. "Alex." "Liz? Are you…" Worry instantly edged Alex's voice. "What's happened?" |