Author: Emma
Category: M/L (Alternative Universe without Aliens)
Rating: ADULT
Disclaimer: I don't own Roswell I’m just borrowing the characters for my fictional enjoyment
I also don't own Regarding Henry (just in case you think this story might be like it 
)Summary: This story follows Max and Liz’s journey where they learn that sometimes forgetting doesn’t mean forgiving.
One
Elizabeth Evans stares at her daughter’s large amber eyes and has to look away before her emotions get the better of her.
“Where’s Daddy?” The little girl turns and asks.
Addison Evans had been staring at the front door waiting for her father to arrive for the past hour and Liz had no idea how to explain to her almost three year old that Daddy probably wasn’t coming again, just like he hadn’t the week before.
Liz sighed. “I’m not sure honey. Maybe he just got caught up at work. I'll ring him,” Liz offered.
She turned and picked up her phone and dialled her husband’s mobile praying that he would pick up and confirm that he was simply running late, or better yet only around the corner. Anything to basically avoid the look of sadness in her daughter’s eyes. Despite the way her father treated her it was obvious to everyone that she was her father’s daughter.
“You’ve reached Max, leave a message.”
Liz closed her eyes in frustration. “Max, its Liz. Where are you? Addison is waiting for you. Please call me as soon as you get this.”
Addison watched as her mother put the phone down. “I’m sorry honey but Daddy must be busy at work,” Liz told her.
It broke Liz’s heart to watch her little face drop, before she removed her back pack from her shoulders and placed it down in the corner before walking off towards her bedroom.
“Damn you Max,” Liz cursed as her eyes filled with tears.
Week after week it was the same thing. Max would either be late or not show up at all for his visitation with Addison and every week it just became harder and harder for Liz to stand by and watch her husband hurt their daughter. Sometimes Liz wondered why he even bothered to go through the facade that he was interested in sharing custody of Addison to begin with. Since the day she had been born he had never shown once ounce of interest in his daughter and Liz doubted he ever would. But despite that, Addison loved him and Liz knew that she couldn’t deny her daughter her father.
Liz and Max had split up two years earlier but as of yet Max had never made a move to file for divorce. Liz often wondered why. Two years ago she had been left with no choice but to walk out on her marriage and away from a man whom she had once thought was her soul mate, but who had turned into a complete stranger. Yes she loved him. She had come to the conclusion she probably always would but one thing that had become crystal clear to her was that Max would never love her back the way she wanted or needed him too.
The separation hadn’t been easy. Luckily for Liz, Addison was only 8 months old when Liz had walked out so she didn’t remember her mother crying herself to sleep every night and Liz swore she would never know the heart ache she felt at not being able to give her the best of everything. Liz refused to take a penny from Max or his family, even in child support, which meant that most weeks Liz and Addison barely made ends meet on Liz’s meagre wage.
Liz was interrupted from her thoughts by her ringing phone.
“Hello?” she answered.
“Hello is this Elizabeth Evans?” the caller asked.
“Yes it is. Who am I speaking to?” Liz replied.
“Mrs Evans, my name is Sandra and I’m calling from Roswell Memorial.”
Liz’s frown deepened as she continued to listen. “I’m very sorry to have to tell you this over the phone but your husband was admitted earlier.”
Liz felt her heart stop. “Max? Is he ok?” she asked.
“I’m afraid he was involved in a rather serious accident and he is currently in surgery,” she explained.
“Oh God,” Liz cried.
“You’re listed as his emergency contact.”
“Yes thank you. I'll be down straight away,” she told her.
Liz hung the phone up slowly as she contemplated what to do. It was Friday afternoon and she already knew that her best friend and neighbour, Maria, wasn’t home to babysit for her.
“Shit,” she cursed realising she was left with no choice but to take Addison with her despite the time and the cooling weather.
“Addy!” she called out as she raced towards her bedroom.
She found her daughter sitting quietly at her small table drawing and she looked up, showing her mother her red eyes, when Liz entered the room.
“Honey we have to go somewhere, so put your warm jacket on, ok?” Liz instructed her.
With a silent nod the little girl did as she was told and soon Liz had her tucked safely in the back of her black SUV racing towards the hospital. It had been one of the few luxuries Liz had allowed herself to take from her life with Max, and only because she knew that there was no way she could work and care for Addison without a car to get them around.
As Liz drove the twenty minute drive to the hospital she pulled out her mobile and rang her sister in law’s number. As expected it went straight to voice mail.
“Isabel its Liz, there’s been an accident. It's Max. You should get to the hospital,” she said briefly.
After hanging up she immediately dialled Max’s parents and left a similar message when she also received their answering machine.
“God please let him be ok,” she whispered to herself.
***
When they arrived at the hospital Liz bundled Addison into her arms before approaching the emergency room desk. The litter girl had fallen asleep in the car and Liz had never been more grateful for that. The last thing she wanted was for Addison to realise that something was wrong with her father.
“Can I help you?” the nurse asked.
“I was told my husband was brought in,” Liz replied as she licked her suddenly dry lips. She was afraid of what she would be told.
“His name?”
“Max Evans,” Liz replied.
The nurse consulted the computer for a few minutes before turning sympathetic eyes back to Liz.
“He’s still in surgery but if you’d like to take a seat then someone will come and speak to you as soon as they can,” she said.
“Thank you,” Liz nodded.
***
It felt like hours that Liz sat waiting before someone approached her.
“Mrs Evans?” the young doctor asked.
“Yes.” Liz nodded.
“I was attending your husband’s surgery,” he explained.
“How is he?” Liz asked.
“They’re just finishing up and they’ll take him to recovery. He suffered a few broken ribs and one of them pierced his lung. We managed to repair it though and hopefully it won’t cause any further problems. He also suffered a fairly severe knock to his head and we’ll need to monitor that to make sure there isn’t any swelling of the brain.”
“And if there is?” Liz asked almost panicked.
“Then we’ll take steps to relieve it,” he replied.
Liz nodded as though she understood but she didn’t.
“So is he going to be ok?” she asked simply.
The doctor smiled. “It's looking good but like I said the next 24 hours will tell us everything we need to know.”
“Thank you,” Liz smiled through her tears before looking down at her daughter. Her beautiful daughter who looked more like her father every day.
“Can I see him?” she asked.
“I will make sure the nurse comes and gets you once he’s settled.” He nodded before he walked back the way he had come leaving Liz to cry silent tears of relief. Her tears weren’t just for the man that her daughter adored they were for the man she knew she would most likely always love.
