My Best Friend, etc. A/U Adult, M/L- Epil. 11/2/09

[mary mary]

*~*~*
Title: My Best Friend, My Love, My Life

Author: Ginger (aka: Mary Mary)

Genre: A/U M/L-M/M Adult

Summary: Max and Liz have known each other since the day Liz was born and now she’s all grown up…

Disclaimer: I have absolutely nothing to do with the show Roswell nor any of it’s constituents… I have borrowed the names of the characters because I like them.


Prologue


Year: 2064

The hospital room was very quiet now.

The white haired 84 year old gentleman sat next to his wife’s bed holding her hand, silently waiting, watching.

“It has been a beautiful journey my love.”

He said quietly to the frail elegant lady that lay there hooked up to all of the life sustaining machines…all quiet now, all but one. The heart monitor registering the faint beat of his beautiful wife’s heart. All that was left of their life was the quiet waiting, all the tears had been shed, now there was nothing left except the waiting.

As he watched and waited his mind drifted back in time to when the world was full of new experiences waiting for them…Their wonderful long life together, 56 years, and he smiled.

*~*~*

Chapter: 1

My Best Friend

Year: 2008

“Hey Mom, what’s up?”

*~*~*

It was 7:30 a.m. when Diane Evans arrived at her office only to find the door locked and no one in sight. The entire suite was being lit by one small desk lamp left on in the corner of the receptionist’s area.

Diane reached for the switch plate on the wall and turned on the main lights. She immediately checked the desk in the main reception area for a note or something that would indicate that Liz might have had to rush away but she found nothing. ‘This is a first’ she thought to herself, ‘Liz is always here at 7:00 a.m. to get things ready for the day’. Diane got a concerned look on her face and immediately went to the phone and dialed home hoping that her son Max hadn’t left for work.

Max was just ready to walk out the back door when his mother’s call came in and he got a puzzled look on his face when he saw the caller ID. ‘She just left a few minutes ago’ he thought to himself as he picked up the phone,


“Hi Max, has Liz called this morning and left any messages for me?”

Max checked the answering machine

“No…and I haven’t taken any phone calls either.” He asked again, with concern in his voice this time,

“Mom, what’s wrong?”

“Well, the office is empty and it isn’t like Liz to be late and not leave a message for me. Will you stop by her place and check it out on your way to work and get back to me honey? The key to her apartment is hanging on the hook by the door; take it in case you need it, I am really worried.”

“I’m on my way Mom and I’ll call you as soon as I know anything…bye.”

*~*~*

Max immediately grabbed his jacket and keys and headed out the door. Now he started to worry also, what could have happened to her? Mom’s right, this isn’t like Liz at all.

He knew that Liz’s roommate Maria was out of town because his best friend Michael is engaged to her, if something is wrong she is all alone. Max’s mind started to spin...he began to imagine all sorts of horrible things.

As he started the car he thought to himself that her mother surely doesn’t need something happening to Liz with her father just recuperating from his last go around with chemo. None of them need anything happening to Liz under any circumstances, he worried to himself.

He started to get a very anxious feeling and he was having a tough time concentrating on his driving, his foot wanted to accelerate…it was shaking almost uncontrollably, he wanted to drive a whole lot faster than he should… It was almost like his foot had a mind of it’s own, as if he had no control over it. He had to calm down…

“What the hell was that turnoff again?” He yelled to no one in particular.

‘Relax,’ he told himself, breathe, just wait until you see what’s going on before losing it. He was trying very hard to control his emotions.

Max’s thoughts continued to run rampant as he drove through town…

*~*~*
June, 2007

Lizzie@aol.com

Hey there friend,

Hope the test went well this morning…Michael said that Maria was really ragging on him about her essay on the Baroque composers and he wondered what she was so all fired up about since his anatomy final was coming up and he thought it was a helluva lot more difficult than an essay on old composers. Maybe they both need a lesson in understanding, what do you think?

I’ll be headed back to Roswell with Michael around the middle of next week…we both got our internships settled with Roswell General all ironed out but need to decide what we want to take and what we want to leave here. Michael will be renting an apartment so I guess he’ll be needing a U-Haul…I can’t decide whether or not I want to take my old jeep home or get rid of the damn thing. It still runs good but it is so old.

How are things with you and Maria?

Your friend always,
Max

Mevans@yahoo.com

Hi Max,

So good to hear from you as always. Maria’s essay got an A, which made her very happy of course. My finals all went well and I guess I will graduate Magna
Cum Laude which should please my parents no end…of course I’m a little happy about it as well.

Maria has been offered a very nice position with a talent agent and will be able to work from home which she is extremely happy about. The job will require a lot of traveling, but I’m sure she will adjust to that.

We are planning on moving in together once we reach Roswell. I am still not sure what I will be doing. I don’t know if I want to follow my business or the paralegal portion of my degree…we’ll see. I will have to make my mind up soon if I plan on living away from home.

Glad to hear that you will be returning about the same time we will…it will be good to know you’re home and safe, where you belong.

You mentioned Michael will be getting an apartment…where does that leave you? You two have been living together since forever…what’s up?

Your friend as always,

Liz

*~*~*

And so the messages went, back and forth. While Liz was away at college he was in medical school and they e-mailed each other regularly but now that they are both back in Roswell they didn’t seem to communicate as often as they had while they were away. He wondered why that was? He wrinkled his brow in thought, ‘maybe it’s because we feel that we are closer geographically to each other and don’t need to keep in touch as regularly, who knows?’

*~*~*

June, 2007

Lizzie@aol.com

Hey there friend,,

A quick note…we are about all packed up, Michael is moving everything from the apartment and taking it with him. I’ll be staying at Mom’s. Since Dad passed away she’s been awfully lonesome and I think it would be a good move for the time being.

Have you made any decisions about what you want to do when you get back home?
Congrats on the Magna Cum Laude status…awesome!!!

We’ll talk when I get back. We’re about ready to pull out and I need to pack this up. We are towing the jeep and traveling together. Take care and see you soon.

As always, your friend,
Max

*~*~*

Liz and Maria have been friends since kindergarten and then they went off to college in Boston together, they are closer than any sisters could ever be.

Max continued to ponder the subject as he continued down the highway. The older Liz got the more adult their relationship became …they shared angst over exam results, funny jokes they had heard and just little stories of their lives in general. ‘She is always so much fun to be with’ he thought; ‘she always has a smile on her face and a kind word for everyone,’

He smiled as his mind wondered on.

While she was next door he never gave it much thought, she was always there, like a part of the scenery. He could always count on her to talk to when he needed a little break from his everyday life. He would just walk through the gate in the fence in the back yard, give a little whistle at the back door and there she was with a big smile on her face and two cherry cokes. But now that he was back home and she was living clear across town he finds that he misses her and it doesn’t make a lot of sense to him, he’s been away for practically eight years, why would he be missing her now.

It seems as though someone removed a part of his comfort zone and he can’t place what it is that he’s missing. A big part of his life was knowing that she was next door, like that’s where she belonged, and it was a comfortable feeling...now that’s gone as well as his father, too many changes all at once.

Max continued to reminisce on his way over to Liz’s apartment…at least his mind wasn’t manufacturing god-awful things as he drove along watching for signs that would take him to her.

She had lived next door to them since the day she was born; he remembered her sitting out on the porch in her swing when she was just a baby and a smile crossed his face. He was only four years old when he would go over and play with her.

Whenever her mother wanted to fold laundry or just run the vacuum she would ask Max to come over and entertain her for a little while and then Nancy would always reward him with one of his favorites; milk and cookies and sometime she would give him a cherry coke, his favorite drink to this day.

Liz was always so much fun…he could make faces at her and tell her stories and she would look at him with those big brown eyes of hers and give him the cutest baby giggles and smiles. He remembered how good it made him feel to be able to make her laugh; this brought another smile to his lips as he continued to drive.

Whenever she would see him she could hardly contain herself…she would literally jump at him from her little swing and clap her tiny baby hands, he could see it as clearly as if it was yesterday.

When she was only eleven months old he taught her how to walk, much to her mother’s chagrin, and then, as the years went by, he taught her to throw a ball, use a bat and catch a football. He never tired of her company. When she wanted to join in and play ball or any other game that he and his friends had going on he made sure his friends always included her and he made sure they never acted as though she wasn’t welcome.

“Come on Liz, you can do it!” echoed through his mind…like a mantra

He walked her to and from kindergarten and taught her how to tie her shoes. He would sit on their front porch swing and read to her for hours, teaching her to read small words before she ever started to school. He taught her the alphabet song and how to count to ten before she was three. In other words she was always a part of his life. He prayed that nothing serious was wrong with her. All of these things ran through his mind as he drove across town.

*~*~*

He finally arrived at Liz’s apartment and he let himself in. She had left a key with his mom when she and Maria first moved in together just in case it would ever be needed for any reason and at the time he couldn’t imagine why they would ever need a key to her apartment.

It was actually the first time he had ever been here so he had to find his way to her room, and when he did find her she was shivering under a mountain of blankets and close to delirium. He immediately phoned his mother to let her know the situation and then he called the local hospital where he and Michael were interns. After speaking with the attending physician in the emergency room he called his mother again.

*~*~*

[mary mary]

NotYourChick:thank you
LilLoucfer:Thank you
Eve: So nice to hear from you...I've changed it around a little, I hope it flows better.
Destiny:
Carolyn:

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A/N: I have reworked this chapter forever and I'm still not really pleased with it but it does say everything I want it to so here it is anyway.

Italics are memories!!!

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Chapter: 2

He took hold of Liz’s hand and held it while he was on the phone. As he sat on the bed next to Liz he took in his surroundings. He waited for what seemed like an eternity for his mother to answer, and as his eyes roamed around the room he found that it was very cheerful…he noticed that Liz’s hand felt so hot to touch ‘God Mom, come on already!’…

He saw a chair in one corner with a teddy bear sitting in it and he recognized it as the one he had won for her at the carnival when she was only ten years old.

*~*~*

“C’mon Liz, let me try and get you a stuffed animal…what d’ya say?”

“Oh Max, I don’t need an animal, it’s okay.” And 10 year old Liz smiled up at her friend while his high school buddies stood around looking bored with the whole thing…why did he have to bring her along anyway?

*~*~*

He smiled, his heart fluttered a little as his eyes continued to dart around the room. There was a skirted bedside table with a cute tall candle lamp on it and the table also held a clock radio, her cell phone and a book that she had been reading lay open, face down, on the table as well. Even the Kleenex box matched the room. He continued to smile and take it all in as he continued to hold her hand, he pulled it up and kissed her knuckles, it was limp and lifeless.

The bedding and curtains all coordinated in muted shades of gold, mauve and a sort of sage green color. She had what looked like a very comfortable double bed and a low chest at the foot of it for added storage. Along one wall was a double dresser with a mirror hanging over it and he noticed a framed picture of Liz and him together that had been taken at one of the family get-togethers.

*~*~*

“C’mon Liz, you and Max stand over there by the pool and let us get a picture of you two…we haven’t had a good picture since before Max left for college.” Jeff Parker said to his daughter.

Max walked over and put his arm around Liz’s waist and looked down at Liz who in return was looking up at him with that beautiful smile and an expression that was hard to read. She had to be in about 10th grade at the time.

*~*~*

Max smiled to himself as he remembered that day…what’s that expression on her face he wondered…he didn’t remember that look?

*~*~*

There was a framed graduation picture of him from high school along with other photos of family members and friends. He was really surprised at how homey looking all of it was for an apartment. His and Michael’s apartment was just a place to store their stuff.

He continued holding her hand the entire time he was waiting for his Mom to answer the phone; it seemed as though it was taking forever when in reality it was only a matter of a few seconds.

Liz usually answered the phones at the office until nine o’clock, which is when the receptionist started her shift. Liz’s main duties consisted of transcribing, research and general office management as well as being Diane’s second in command.

Finally Diane answered and his mother’s voice brought him out of his reverie with a start and sent a bolt through his heart that surprised him, he immediately interrupted her…

“Hi Mom, it’s me… I called the emergency room and they said the hospital waiting room is full of patients with the same symptoms. The doctor working E R said it’s some sort of bug going around. When I explained that Liz was alone he said that someone should be with her at least until her fever breaks. So… I’m going to take her back home with me…

I already spoke with personnel and told them I would be out for the next few days. I surely can’t take her to Jeff and Nancy’s because of Jeff’s weakened state from his chemo treatments so that leaves me.

I know I can take better care of her at the house, and besides, we’ll be close to Nancy if it comes to the point that I feel I should let her know what’s going on. I’ll let you know if anything changes. I’m not going to worry Nancy with this unless I feel she needs to know, she has enough to do taking care of Jeff.”

“Oh thank God Max, I am so glad to hear this, I’ve been so worried. I’ll see you at home and take good care of yourself as well, okay?”

“I will Mom, you can count on it.” And with that Max hung up.

Max wrapped Liz up in the down comforter that was on her bed and then he went to her closet to find a piece of luggage… He grabbed some underwear, pj’s, slippers, robe and other items he thought she might need and quickly put them into the overnight bag he grabbed from her closet. He ran down to the jeep with the bag and quickly came back and picked Liz up and carried her to the jeep as well.

The trip home wasn’t quite as harrowing as the one he had made to the apartment but it was running a close second. He was terrified that he wouldn’t be able to get the fever down before it caused damage to her system…he knew this was important and needed to be dealt with as soon as possible.

By the time he got her home he noticed that she was soaking wet and she couldn’t hold her head up. He gently laid her on the couch and realized that she had no idea where she was and was talking incoherently. Max immediately ran upstairs and got a couple of blankets from the linen closet in the hallway and came back down and put them in the clothes dryer to warm them up. He then took her temperature, it was over 103 degrees; she was burning up, very pale and clammy feeling. The only way he could bring that temperature down was to give her a cold sponge bath, he couldn’t get her conscious enough to take some aspirins and this concerned him as well.

He carried her upstairs to his room and got a dry pair of pajamas out of the bag he had packed for her and then got a pan of cold water from the bathroom and a large towel from the linen closet. He carefully started removing her wet clothes and wrapped her in a big terry towel and started sponging her with the cold water. He thought about putting her into a tub full of cold water but decided against it. He would continue to sponge her off and see how that worked first.

After sponging her for about half an hour he took her temperature again and it was down to 101 degrees. At least the sponging was doing some good.

Then she started to shiver, her teeth were chattering and Max knew she was now getting chilled and instead of putting her thin cotton pajamas on her he went to his closet and retrieved a soft flannel shirt of his own. He put that on her along with a pair of his boxers and some crew socks on her feet. If she weren’t so sick he would have to laugh at his attempt to keep her warm. She looked so cute in her oversized clothes.

Liz opened her eyes for a moment and then her eyes seemed to roll back into her head. God was he scared! She was so pitiful looking that his heart just ached. He wondered if he should just fill the tub and put her in a cold bath anyway but decided against it. He was afraid he might drop her and only make matters worse… he was a wreck with anxiety…now he understood why doctors didn’t treat their own families and loved ones, it’s too hard to feel confident and think straight when your emotions were all over the place.

He wanted her to say something cute the way she always did when they would kid each other but no such luck, she was delirious with fever.

He put a blanket over her to keep her warm, she was burning up with fever but she was also shivering with chills. He leaned over and kissed her cheek and let his cheek rest against hers for a second, ‘she’s still too warm’ he thought to himself.

He was amazed at how trim and conditioned her body was. ‘Good God, she’s built like a brick shithouse…when did this happen?’ he thought to himself.

‘Get your mind back here Max!’ He chastised himself.

After he had her all dressed he pulled her hair into a high loose ponytail and caught it with a ribbon he found hanging on a bathroom hook. His Mom must use it when she puts her makeup on or something, ‘anyway this should keep her hair away from her face and off her neck.’ He thought to himself.

He tried to get her under the covers but she started to shake with chills again. He immediately ran downstairs and got a warm blanket from the clothes dryer that he had placed there earlier to warm up and then he ran back up the stairs as fast as he could make it and wrapped her in it. The comforter he had her in was discarded the minute they reached his room. It was soaked with perspiration.

He was going to leave her upstairs but decided that the living room was a better choice. He carried her back downstairs to the living room and gently laid her on the couch. He immediately built a fire in the fireplace and sat down on the couch and slowly lifted her up and placed her on his lap and held her in his arms. He cradled her like a small child. She was really shivering now and he was getting very concerned, he started to doubt the ER doctor, what if he was wrong? But he knew he was just being overly concerned, he had to trust the man.

He also knew from experience that this sort of thing would take time; ‘but she looks so helpless’ he thought to himself. She was making chattering sounds with her teeth again and he wanted to wrap her inside of him. He took the blanket off the front of her and pulled her closer to his own body; he tucked the blanket in around her. He will warm her with his own body heat; maybe it will help. As he held her he noticed how really tiny and vulnerable she was.

She has always seemed so strong and full of life, now she looked just like the little girl that used to live next door. ‘She just seems to fit in my lap so perfectly’ he thought to himself.

She was mumbling something incoherent again and he pressed his cheek to her forehead in an effort to calm her down as well as to check and see if she was cooling down any…she was still pretty clammy from the fever but now she seemed to be semi-conscious. He wished she would wake up enough to take some aspirin for the fever…he needed her to take some soon he thought.

After about a half hour she seemed to calm down some and she was not shaking as badly as she had been. She could only look up at him with gratitude in her eyes; she couldn’t even manage a smile. She knew it was Max and right now she couldn’t think of anyone else on earth she would rather be with. The only thing she knew for sure was she was cold.

She started to dream. All of the memories of her childhood, feelings of happiness involving Max flooded her mind and she was suddenly content, she didn’t know why but he was always there when she was in need.

She was still shaking but not quite as much. She had started to perspire again…Max was not sure if there would be enough clean dry clothes to keep her comfortable. He would just have to make do until he could get to the washing machine.

The phone rang and Max managed to get her settled comfortably on the couch and ran to answer it, it was Diane and she wanted to know if he needed anything. He thought for a minute and then he suggested that she pick up some ginger ale and jello on her way home. He then told her the situation and let her know that he had things under control.

Taking the cordless phone with him this time he went back to the living room and he positioned the recliner rocker as close to the fire as he could safely get it. He changed her clothes again and then he wrapped her back up in another dry, warm blanket and laid her in the chair in its’ reclined position.

He headed back out to the kitchen to make some tea which he hoped she would be able to drink ‘the way she is sweating she needs to replace some liquids’ he thought to himself. He filled the teakettle and placed it on the stove to heat up and then he remembered that she liked plain old black tea. He got the regular tea bags, passing up all the trendy teas his mother kept in the cupboard, and poured the hot water from the kettle into the thermos teapot his Mom always used. He put the teabags next to the teapot that he had set it on a tray along with a cup and headed back to the living room as quickly as possible. He immediately placed the tray on the coffee table next to the bottle of water and the aspirins that he had put there earlier; she was shaking again. It seemed his body was the only thing keeping her warm. He immediately lifted her up and unwrapped her and held her to him then he sat down in the recliner with her in his lap and he enveloped her and him with the blanket. He then tilted back into a reclining position in order to make them both comfortable. They were going to be here for a while, he knew that for sure, he just didn’t know what else he could do for her.

He whispered out a prayer in the quiet of the room as he held her close, “Oh God, please let her get better soon.” He tried to talk to her,

“Liz? Liz honey; can you open your eyes for me?”

But she just laid there all cuddled up like a little child, shivering with chills, her head tucked under his chin and her right arm resting on his shoulder. He placed a kiss on her temple and gently rubbed her back in little circles; he thought to himself ‘at least she looks comfortable’. He looked at the fire for a while then he dozed off.

Some hours later Liz started to come to and she couldn’t, for a second, figure out what was going on. Then she started to remember little bits and pieces about the past 24 hours and realized what had happened. She then realized that she was in Max’s arms, she recognized his aftershave, and she felt this overwhelming sense of happiness.

She vaguely remembered coming home from work and feeling very tired, she didn’t feel very well at all last night, or was it last night? Anyway, after she took her shower she just climbed into bed and then started to feel very cold. She put some extra blankets over herself and that’s the last she remembered of anything until now. She could see Max, sound asleep, and as she lay there in his arms like a little child she watched the fire and smiled.

*~*~*

[mary mary]

Eve:Thank you...so nice to hear from you.
NotYourchick:Of course!!!
Natalie:thank you.
Destiny:thank you.
carolyn:Yes she has...

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A/N: Italics are memories...
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Chapter: 3

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“Maria, you have to come home with me after school tomorrow and see what Max won for me. It was so much fun Maria…but I don’t think Max’s friends like me very much. But Max told them to straighten up or go home. You should have seen him Maria, he was so much fun!”

“Liz, you do know that he is fourteen years old don’t you?”

“What do you mean Maria? Of course I know he’s fourteen, why wouldn’t I know he’s fourteen. We have been best friends forever!”

“Liz, you don’t act like he’s your best friend.”

“Maria, I don’t know what you’re talking about…of course I act like he’s my best friend. He has always been my best friend…besides you that is.”

“Okay Liz, if you say so.” But ten year old Maria had her doubts. Other girls in their class acted that way over boys in their class not freshman in high school. Liz had a crush, that’s what she had and she didn’t care what Liz said.

*~*~*

She has loved this man since she was a little girl and has been in love with him since she was ten, Maria was right, but he was so much older than she was. Four years sounds like a lot when you’re ten and he’s fourteen. Hell, it is a lot! She remembered him taking her to the carnival with him and his friends and they didn’t want her to go along but Max convinced them that she was going and they didn’t have to come along if they didn’t want to. She had wanted to go so badly but her father wasn’t feeling very well and her mother didn’t want to leave him alone, so Max took her and that’s when he won a teddy bear for her by knocking metal milk bottles over with a baseball.

*~*~*

“C’mon Liz, let me try and get you a stuffed animal…what d’ya say?”

“Oh Max, I don’t need an animal, it’s okay.”

And then he knocked all those milk bottles over on the first throw. Michael was disgusted with the whole scene and Liz didn’t know why. Michael could have tried and won an animal. Couldn’t he? She was very confused about all of this….

*~*~*

She had a marvelous time and she was so proud to walk around the carnival grounds sporting that big teddy bear. The thing was almost as big as she was.

*~*~*

Then Max went off to college and she started high school, she thought her heart would break. Then she went off to college and he on to medical school. By that time Liz had come to terms with their lives and didn’t dream those cozy dreams of a child anymore.

They kept in touch through the years keeping each other current with their lives because they really were friends and the older they got the more grown-up Liz became. They had more adult things in common such as grades, finals, dreams, ambitions, all of the things that friends shared as well as every holiday there ever was since they were small children. Their parents were and are still the best of friends.

Since Max’s father died and his mother took over their law practice alone there hasn’t been a lot of time for get-togethers like there once was…and now that Liz’s dad is so sick her mom is tied up as well.

Liz started working for Max’s mom last year, right out of college, and has managed to take a lot of the burden of the office from her. With her paralegal and business skills as well as some knowledge of journalism she has become a real asset to the firm. His mom has told Max that she knows a lot of lawyers that don’t have her savvy and common sense. This pleased Max very much. He always knew she had a good head on her shoulders. His mom also said that she has brought a lot of new and fresh ideas to the firm.

***

Liz feels very safe here in Max’s arms; as a matter of fact she feels safer than she has in a long time and she has to scold herself for what she’s starting to feel.

‘He is so warm…why is he so warm? Oh God, I hope he isn’t getting sick too’ she thinks to herself. He starts to stir and realizes that he needs to be still or she might wake up. He is not really sure how long he has been asleep but he doesn’t want to wake her, he looks down and finds himself looking into her eyes and she smiles a happy smile at him. She says very softly

“thank you”…Her pony tail is all straggly and the ribbon is hanging onto a couple of strands of hair and she looks so cute that Max wants to hug the day lights out of her.

he smiles back and says,

“You’re welcome” just as softly and places a kiss on her forehead and Liz gives a little shiver and it isn’t chills she’s feeling.

“I think you need to have some tea, some broth and some clean dry clothes. What do you think?” Max says softly…

Liz looks up at him with those beautiful brown eyes of hers and his heart starts to melt again. ‘What is wrong with me?’ he thinks.

Liz lifts the blanket covering both of them and looks down at herself and replies,

“I think that I have had some dry clothes already … what do you think?” She smiles and winks at him coyly.

“Well, you were a little damp and the doctor said to keep you dry and warm.” Max offered with a shy grin on his face.

“You called the doctor? I thought you were a doctor!” She replied with shock, she was taken aback a little by this statement.

“Well, I was going to take you to the emergency room and have tests done to see what was wrong and they told me the emergency room was full of patients with your symptoms so I decided to bring you home where I knew I could take better care of you.

Besides, your Mom is right next door in case things got worse. I haven’t told her that you’re here yet and if she calls the office my Mom knows the situation and will handle it, although I don’t want to think how things could have gotten any worse.” Max shifted them around a little to work out some kinks…

” Oh yeah, and my mom, we will have to let her know you are over the first hump. You have to stay down for a couple of days…lots of liquids, dry clothes and stay warm. It’s going around you know, and the doctor doesn’t want you sharing this with anyone else.

Now, I need to do some laundry and fix you something to eat. What would you like to do first? Take a bath? Have some tea or what? But you definitely need to take a couple of aspirins, just to make me happy…I think I deserve it!” Max grinned and gave her a little hug…

“Can I just lay here for awhile and stay comfy.”

Max looked down into those big brown eyes of hers and his heart started to thrum wildly in his chest again…’what in the hell is going on here?’ ‘Stop it!’ He thinks to himself.

“I think that would be okay. Just have a cup of tea before you fall back to sleep and the aspirin and water are right next to the tea bags. You really need to replace all the liquids you have lost, we can’t have you dehydrating.”

“Okay, I’ll have a cup of tea, if you insist and I need to use the bathroom. Thanks!”

Max helped her up and made sure she got to the bathroom without any trouble…she was still a little light headed. Then she curled back up on his lap and gave him that big smile of hers and tucked her head under his chin.

“Would you like me to call Maria?” He asked, secretly hoping she says no. Then he remembered Maria is out of town.

“I think we have things under control right here, what do you think?” She asks.

“I think you’re probably right.” (He says with a grin) Anyway, when you’re ready for something to eat you let me know. Peanut butter and jelly is always on the menu (always one of her favorites as a child, even at thanksgiving dinners), or I can fix you soup, raid the freezer…whatever you think you would be able to get down, let me know.”

“Let’s stay this way awhile. I am so comfortable. I don’t want to lose this.” And Liz snuggled down farther into to Max’s lap getting more comfortable if that was possible.

“Lose what?” Max was totally confused…

“Your lap!” She grinned

“Liz, my lap is always with me, you won’t lose it!” Liz sighed…

“Yes, but I am not always sick, and besides…I haven’t felt this safe and secure in a very long time. I want to remember how this feels. I’m sure it’s because I’m sick but no one has taken care of me like this since I was a very, and I do mean very, little girl."

*~*~*

Liz remembers…

“Good morning Mrs. Parker, is Liz ready for school?” Max came to walk Liz to kindergarten….

“Good morning Max…are you sure you want to do this…I can walk with her if you would rather walk with your friends.” Nancy asked 8 year old Max.

“Oh no Mrs. Parker, I want to take her. I’ll take good care of her, I promise.”

“I know you will Max…be careful and I’ll wait for you at the corner when school is out, okay?” Nancy smiled down at the young boy…

“Okay Mrs. Parker, we’ll be there. Have a good day.” Nancy had to stifle the giggle she was trying to have…

“I will Max and you do the same.”

And Max took Liz’s hand and they walked to school together.

*~*~*

"Remember Max, you always watched over me back then. I want to remember this too Max…I want to remember this feeling for a very long time; I’ve forgotten just how nice it feels to be taken care of. Thank you for being my friend and Max, thank you for this.”

“Welcome baby.” and Max kissed her temple before he gave it a second thought.

(Oh sweet Mother of God, where in the hell did that come from? Max was beyond shocked at what he just said and did.)

Liz gives him a very big loving smile and a nice big kiss on the cheek…this is her very own bestest friend on earth…and is she lucky! She snuggles back down into that nice warm body of his and goes right back to sleep.

He smiled a smile he didn’t understand, ‘what’s going on here? What are these feelings I’m having?…Strange!!!’ He thought to himself. His body was starting to feel things that he deemed inappropriate right now and he was not so sure that the feelings weren’t welcome.

He wrapped his arms around her, making sure she was snug and safe and he stretched that big strong body of his out as far as he could without disturbing her comfort and just before he nodded off he smiled…oh yeah!

He went to sleep right along with her.

Diane came home and checked the scene in the living room…the mess in the kitchen and laundry room and knew her son had been a very busy doctor. She put another log on the fire, Liz’s hair was all askew across Max’s chest, there is her ribbon holding one little clump around her left ear and Max had his arms wrapped protectively around her body as they both slept like babies. She left the two of them alone; they looked quite comfortable as a matter of fact. ‘It’s about damn time’ she thought to herself with a knowing smile. Call it a mother’s intuition, they all can’t be wrong…these two belong together.

*~*~*

[mary mary]

Destiny: Me too!!!
Natalie: You are so right...
Carolyn:He's a doctor

*~*~*


(4)

The next few days weren’t as harrowing as the first day and a half and Max managed to get Liz back on the road to recovery. She stayed downstairs on the couch after getting over the chills and fever but Max never left her side. He slept on the recliner and managed to keep a very close eye on her at all times. He fixed and fed her all of her meals and insisted she use the guest bathroom downstairs. Finally, after the third day, he let her take a shower and gave her a pair of his sweats to wear while he laundered all of her clothes that he brought with him. She went through them like a teenager at the “Gap”! Of course she had very little memory of the first day. Only that Max was there with her. Max would probably die of embarrassment if she knew how often he bathed and changed her clothes. Even if he is a doctor this is Liz.

He will have to take the down comforter to the dry cleaners and he asked her why she would own bedding that needed to be dry-cleaned only. She told him that she usually put it in a duvet when in use and she never gave it much thought. It is one of the warmest blankets she has ever used and very lightweight and almost a necessity in Boston. Max gave this some thought and then moved on, it made sense.

Diane finally went next door on the second day and informed Nancy of what was happening at their house and Nancy made a large pot of chicken soup for the whole group. She stayed away because she didn’t want to carry the bug back over to Jeff so she called Max and met him at the front door. It’s just as well since Liz was so sick for the first two days. Max didn’t want to concern Nancy needlessly and cause her any added worry. Nancy knew of course that Liz was in good hands. She always was when Max was around. She would trust him with her daughters’ life any time.

And she remembered…

*~*~*

“Hi Max, how are you today?” Asked Nancy Parker as four year old Max Evans climbed the long stairway leading up to the front porch.

Liz was sitting in her swing listening to her mommy sing a little nursery rhyme to her as she sat and snapped green beans for dinner.

“Hi Mrs. Parker…I came over to say hello to Liz. How is she today?”

Nancy smiled at the young boy who lived next door…the son of her best friend since grammar school, Diane Evans.

“She’s fine Max. Would you like to stay here and keep her company for awhile, while I check on my dinner?”

“Sure Mrs. Parker…I can sing to her too. Do you think she would like that?” Max asked with those cute little amber eyes of his as wide as he could make them.

Nancy had to smile at the young child who had befriended Liz, and she said, “I am sure Liz would love to hear you sing Max. I’ll bring something out for you in a minute, okay?”

“Yes Mrs. Parker. I’ll be here and I’ll make sure nothing happens to her.” Nancy was very certain that Max would take excellent care of Liz.

“Thank you Max.” And Nancy left the two youngsters alone for a minute while she checked her pot roast and got Max a glass of milk and some cookies.

*~*~*

Four days later Max took Liz back to her apartment. He knew Maria would be coming home and that Liz would not be alone in case there was a relapse but Max was fairly certain that Liz was well on her way to recovery.

Max was busying himself cleaning up the mess he left the day he found Liz so sick and Liz was curled up on the couch with a cup of tea, a fire in the fireplace and a movie on the TV.

The apartment was really quite nice considering that the two girls living there have only been working since graduating university a year ago. They have managed to purchase some very comfortable and inviting furniture and added some very cozy accessories. Liz told him that it has taken many trips to various yard sales and thrift shops to come up with the eclectic style of hominess they managed to accomplish. They have become very adept at re-upholstery, furniture refinishing and with the help of Michael, carpentry. Max was very impressed. The only really new items they purchased were the box springs and mattresses for their beds, the sofa and the dining room table…but all of these were at rock bottom prices. They weren’t comfortable with the idea of used mattresses and decided that they definitely had to be new. Now Max understood why Liz drove a small pick-up truck.

Maria walked in and surveyed the situation and looked a little confused. Liz was asleep by this time and Max motioned her to the bedroom.

“What’s going on Max?”

“She’s been quite sick…a bug that’s had the whole town on its’ ear. Anyway, she’s feeling better now but I need to change the bed. She’s been at our house for four days and I think that’s enough time for this to be dry”, he points to Liz’s mattress. “It was soaked from perspiration caused by her fever.” He sprayed the mattress with some disinfectant before replacing the mattress cover.

Both of them worked together putting on sheets and blankets that Max had taken down to the laundry room and laundered. When they finished they both took a look at the sleeping Liz on the couch and smiled…. hard to believe that’s the hard charging young woman they both know and love.

Max noticed a charcoal portrait of the two girls hanging over the fireplace and asked Maria when they had that done. They looked so natural and happy in it. Maria informed him that Michael had taken a picture of them when they were horsing around one day and then he did the portrait in charcoal and had it framed for them as a housewarming gift. Max was very impressed. He had forgotten that his best friend was also a very talented artist. The portrait was so lifelike that Max felt himself start to tear up. Michael had managed to capture their personalities so well and he could only smile back at Maria knowingly.

“Well Maria, you’re on your own. I am going home and going to bed. There is juice and sodas in the fridge…soup that mom made on the stove and tea on the counter. Of course there’s always P, B and J!”

They both chuckled softly at that one.

“Max, you are a great friend. Thank you.”

Max walked over and placed a small kiss on top of Liz’s head, smiled and nodded at that remark and left the two girls alone.

*~*~*

About an hour later Liz started to stir, this is not comfortable she thought to herself, she looked up and saw Maria and gave her a confused smile,” where’s Max?”

“Hi sleepyhead, I hear you’ve been under the weather.”

“Boy you can say that again, ( she said softly) it’s been a real hoot around here. What happened to Max? “

“When I came in he was changing your sheets. He filled me in on the situation while we made the bed up for you and then he took off. He said something about going home and going to bed himself. He must be worn out. Anyway, would you like some soup or something to drink? Diane sent some homemade soup over for you, as you know, and it really looks good.”

(Liz really wanted Max to be there with her right now…’his lap is so much more comfortable than this pillow’ she thought…why does she feel like this, she thought that she was over this little girl crush on the boy next door.)

“Maria how was your trip? And sure, I’ll have some soup if you’ll join me.”

“It was long …the plane ride back was no picnic but it’s over,” Maria eyed her friend for a minute and noticed that Liz was still looking around the apartment sort of hoping to see someone else. Maria busied herself in the kitchen getting some bowls from the cupboard and a tray from the sideboard in the dining area.

“Do you want to eat in here or in front of the TV?”

“I’m glad you’re home Maria. Let’s just eat in here. Can I help you with anything?” Liz said with a little less enthusiasm than Maria was hoping for. Not that Maria wanted help; she wanted her friend to have more energy.

“I can’t think of anyplace I would rather be, and no you can’t help me with anything. I hope I don’t have to do very many more of these weeklong escapades unless they are really interesting. This last trip was really a bummer, the group I went to see was nothing more than a bunch of kids with minimal talent. Maybe in a few years and some extensive music lessons they might come around. Sometimes I hate being the ogre but their parents were thrilled that I took the time to see them so not all was lost.”

Maria looked at her best friend who looks as though she is about to fall asleep again… I guess their conversation is over for a while.

*~*~*

[mary mary]

Jan:Pure fluff...every time i try to write angst I get all anxious and it winds up fluff...it does make for good morning coffee reading though.
Destiny:Here it is ... it only gets better!!!
Carolyn:Certainly not me.
*~*~*
Chapter: 5

Max got home and started cleaning up the living room and putting all of the blankets in the laundry room and the dishes in the kitchen. He didn’t want to leave a mess for his mother… She works hard enough as it is and with Liz sick these last few days it has really been tough on her. She still found the time to make some more chicken soup for her though.

He is so lucky to have had Philip and Diane for parents. As his world expands and he sees how other people are and the families they have he knows how truly lucky he is.

He picked up one of Liz’s tops that he had to change and suddenly felt very strange. He can see her lying there so frail and helpless and wanting nothing more than his lap to curl up on. He had never seen this side of Liz before and although he wanted her to be up and around he really missed her softer side. He looks down and realizes that he is holding the shirt to his chest as though she was in it….what is going on here? He shakes himself back to reality and heads for the laundry room.

*~*~*

The next day he is back at the hospital going full bore when he runs into his best friend and fellow intern Michael.

“Hi Max. What happened buddy? Were you under the weather or something?”

Michael has been dating Maria for the past five years and they will be tying the knot as soon as he has his internship fulfilled and he has passed his medical exams.

They met at Liz’s parents home when the girls had come home for Christmas break their freshman year at college; it was a match made in heaven.

Michael and Max plan on opening a practice together when they finish their internship very soon, Michael being the OB/GYN and Max the Pediatrician. Max has his inheritance from his father and plans on using that to set up practice right here in Roswell where they grew up. The town is large enough for some privacy and small enough to be friendly.

Max looked at Michael for a minute and said,

“Aw, no man, Liz was sick with the bug that’s going around and her Mom is so busy taking care of her dad that I stayed home and took care of her.”

Michael noticed a small smile forming on his friends face and wondered just how good of care he gave her.

He knows that Liz has had a crush on Max since childhood; Maria mentioned that all Liz could ever talk about was Max, the boy next door, while growing up. Michael knew that Max has felt very protective of Liz since he and Max met in high school. He even insisted that she go to the carnival with them when they were teenagers and she a mere fifth grader. Michael thought it was awfully strange at the time, hell he still thinks it was strange.

He also knew that Max dated occasionally but never formed a lasting relationship with any of those women. He often wondered why Max never pursued a relationship with Liz after she graduated from high school but he never asked. He knew there was a four-year age difference but there was no reason not to move forward after she started college. I guess he had his own reasons.

Maybe he’ll suggest to Maria that they need to plan a double date!!!

‘Don’t interfere Michael’, his inner voice was working overtime to tell him to mind his own business but his heart was telling him it’s time for Max to find out why he’s been celibate for so many years. He and Maria have a pretty good idea and if the truth be known so do Max and Liz’s parents.

*~*~*

Ignoring every warning from his inner self Michael called Maria to fill her in on his plan and Maria agreed that they should do this. “Liz has seemed empty since her stay with Max was over and seems to really miss him being around.” Maria doesn’t feel that Liz has ever gotten over her feelings for Max and now that she sees her after her few days with Max as a grown woman she believes that this was never just a crush but love all along.

Liz has rejected every man that has ever attempted to date her. She managed to find a million faults with all of them. Too short, too tall, too skinny, too fat and once she even came up with “he looks like a wooly bug”. She has turned down some of the most eligible bachelors on the planet. Even the new young lawyer at Diane’s law firm practically falls all over himself when she’s in close proximity to him and she doesn’t even know he exists. Why hadn’t they seen this before?


So Maria and Michael set out to play cupid. That Saturday they decide to meet at Liz and Maria’s apartment for dinner and cards; that sounds friendly enough since Liz has been under the weather and “shouldn’t be left alone”…Michael’s input.

*~*~*

For some reason Max is very excited to be going to Liz and Maria’s. They have never done this before but it sounds like fun. He wonders if there is something he should take as a polite gesture so he gives Maria a call and asks her if there is anything he can bring and she tells him just himself. He suggests a bottle of wine and she laughs…

”Sure Max, we’re having chicken so red or white…either will be fine.”

Max laughs at that and says he’ll take care of it and then asks…

”How’s our girl doing? Mom said she finally came back to work but is she up for this?”

Maria lets him know that she is getting stronger every day and that she will be fine for this evening since she slept almost 12 hours last night. He says “good” and signs off.

In the meantime Liz feels like a giddy teenager. You would think that she had never met the man before and she has known him all of her twenty-three years. What in the hell is going on? (She knows damn good and well in the back of her mind what is going on but doesn’t want to admit it.) He has NEVER made any indication to her that he cared for her in any way other than friends. If only….

*~*~*

[mary mary]

Carolyn:I think you're right...
Destiny:I hope so.
Natalie:He sure is...
Jan:You are always so kind...you know I wll!
jEsSaH:Thank you so much...he's COMING...honest!!!

Thanks all of you from the 'Lady of Fluff'...

*~*~*

Chapter: 6

Max arrived at the apartment right at 7:00 and rang the doorbell. He was hoping to see her smiling face on the other side of the door, his stomach was doing flip flops, but Maria came to the door instead and gave him a great big hug and let him in. Liz was setting the table and when she saw him she melted. She gave him her biggest smile and walked over and took the wine from his hand, gave him a peck on the cheek and said

“Hi Max”.

He reached around her waist with one arm and kissed her on the temple and said “Hi”.

He melted, his legs turned to jelly and he wanted to grab her and take her in his arms and hold her forever.

“WHERE IN THE HELL ARE ALL OF THESE FEELINGS COMING FROM?” ‘God, is he losing his damned mind? This is Liz for Christ’s sake, get a grip. He’s known her all of her life and most of his for that matter.’ (Oh, but little girls grow up don’t they old man?) The little voice in his head asked.

She looks so cute…blue jeans, pink tank top, pony tail and bunny slippers. (Oh for God’s sake, get over it man) that voice again. Jeezus, look at those lips, strawberry kissed lips, can anyone get any more gorgeous than that? His mind was running wild with this crazy shit…he really needs to take control of himself soon or he can just lie down and beg like a dog for a bone. Any old bone will do… just put him out of his misery. He wants her bad!

Maria just stands there taking it all in…he’s a goner!!! OH YEAH!!! She can hardly contain her glee…she knew they were right.

About that time the doorbell rings again and it’s Michael. Maria can’t wait for him to get in here and witness the display of emotions playing out in the other room.

“Michael, you are so right… wait until you seem him, he can hardly keep his eyes focused. What happened last week?” She asked excitedly.


“Hell Maria, I don’t know. He came back to work and said he had to take care of her because her mother was taking care of her dad. Then he started grinning like a damned Cheshire cat. I think he woke up…that’s what I think.” Michael was really confused by Maria’s actions.

“Well, whatever happened, I think we are on the right track here!”

They all sat down to dinner and were having a great time. The meal was a huge success and the girls were very proud of their efforts.

They both had been together on their own since their freshman year in college they managed to learn to survive on a shoestring and were both very adept in the kitchen. They used their allowances for other things.

They served chicken and lasagna with their special homemade sauce (they made it from a recipe they got from an Italian school mate back in Boston). They also served a tossed salad and homemade garlic bread. It impressed both of the young doctors. They had made a cheesecake from scratch as well and planned on serving it up for dessert after their card game.

Michael had eaten many meals with Maria at the apartment but never a planned sit down dinner such as tonight. It was usually something quick and easy that they could grab on the run while getting ready for another long day or a chance at some alone time. This was truly a treat for him. He had no idea she was this talented in the kitchen.

Maria was usually on the run with her job as the assistant to one of the largest talent agencies in the state. She worked from home but was on the road quite a lot. She was also a very talented musician and songwriter herself but only wanted to do these things for her own enjoyment. She liked the home life too much to devote herself to the entertainment field. Little did she know that her present job would take her away from home almost as much as being an entertainer would. Her degree was in theater and also business.

Both girls had managed to accomplish dual degrees, and very diverse ones at that, in only four years of study. They applied themselves to the task at hand and were both rewarded for their efforts. Not that they didn’t have fun but they each had goals to achieve and were very determined to reach them … and so they did. Of course they were lucky to have had the parents they had, not having to take outside employment to help with expenses they could accomplish these feats without the added burden of jobs.

The girls were very happy that the young men liked their dinner and were also proud of themselves as well. After all they didn’t want them to think they were useless as homemakers.

After they cleaned up the dining area and put the dishes in the dishwasher they took the extra leaf from the table (they had purchased the table at a local furniture store that had gone out of business). It had been scratched up pretty badly from being in storage and they had stripped it down to bare wood and stained it a very dark cherry color to match the eight chairs that they had purchased at a yard sale for forty dollars. The entire dining room consisted of pieces purchased here and there and the way they had it all put together was awesome.

The Waterford crystal goblets that they used were purchased at the same yard sale as the dining room chairs for only twenty dollars. The glass goblets were of a different pattern than the wine glasses; there were only five wine glasses and seven water goblets but they were gorgeous. The girls didn’t mind that they didn’t have a complete set. As far as they were concerned a service for four was ample at this particular stage of their lives.

The grandchildren of an elderly woman who had just passed away were trying to get rid of everything the lady had and the girls were absolutely elated with their find. They were only sorry they hadn’t arrived at the sale earlier in the day. The stuff these kids were selling was unreal. They also purchased the headboards for their beds and matching chests. They couldn’t buy anymore of the stuff because their apartment was too small for it and they were almost tempted to rent a storage facility. They didn’t do it though…but after having second thoughts they knew they should have. No such thing as hindsight.

They used the four extra dining chairs as fill-ins since they would not all fit in the dining area; they used one in each of their bedrooms and two in the living room for added seating. All of the items were a dark cherry and in extremely good condition.

They had managed to buy some old table legs that were compatible with the dining table from a salvage yard and they bought a nice piece of cherry wood at the local lumberyard. They had pre-measured a space for a sideboard they intended to build with the help of Michael and the guys at the lumberyard were more than happy to cut the board to their specifications (anything for these two cuties!) They also helped them choose some molding to put around the edges of the board. The entire project turned into a beautiful addition to the room. Not too big and just enough room for extra storage for additional table settings.

They purchased a lovely silver tea and coffee set at the local thrift store for seven dollars. It was back with tarnish but they recognized it for what it was and they cleaned it all up with silver polish. Then they put a very nice scarf under the tray for accent. A large mirror purchased at another garage sale adorned the wall above the sideboard and a green plant from the local nursery finished the picture. Michael had helped them cover a piece of wood to make a valance for over the dining room window matching the one in the living room. Max was very impressed when he found out how they managed to decorate the room for less than two hundred dollars. They were amazing.

They sat down to a game of pinochle, girls against the boys. What a time they had laughing and giggling over the bidding that was going on and trying to signal each other without becoming downright cheaters. The guys finally managed to outscore the girls by a very marginal win, and the girls then brought out the cheesecake.

The cheesecake had cherries to top it all off and the men were again very impressed. They enjoyed each other’s company for a while longer and then they were ready to call it a night. Michael was planning to spend the night with Maria and they excused themselves and went to get ready for bed leaving Max and Liz alone.

*~*~*

A/N Please forgive all of the time devoted to the surroundings of the apartment but it sorta plays a part in the story later. Sorry

[mary mary]

Jan:It is so nice to be 'queen' of something. As for angst, some days I don't even have to open my front door, it just sort of lurks in the shadows just waiting to pounce. I guess this beats dwelling on the negative! I'm so glad I can put a smile on your face...we all need one.
Destiny: I'll tell you what I used to tell my kids..."Patience is a Virtue", but the sign over my desk for 15 years read "Patience my a$$< I'm going to kill something!?" The picture was two vultures sitting on a tree stump. Thank the Lord I had a private office...anyway..."HERE IT COMES!!! (Good Catholic School Girl that I was...every nuns nightmare...I really was good though, just a teeny bit rebellious)
Natalie:Guess!!!
Carolyn:Hey buddy, he's about to find out!

*~*~*

And the Old Man Continues to Reminisce

My Love

Chapter: 7

Liz asked Max if he would like to watch some TV or a movie,

“We have quite a nice selection of DVD’s and not all of the selections are ‘chick flicks’” as she explained with a giggle.

He had forgotten just how much he enjoyed that little laugh of hers, it was contagious. He gave her a sexy grin and knelt down in front of the DVD cabinet to take a look at all of his options and as he did he noticed how cozy the living room was and then took notice of it with more interest.


The living room consisted of the two extra dining room chairs and a nice sized sofa that was purchased at the same “going out of business sale” that they had purchased their table and mattress sets. Liz explained that they paid a mere two hundred dollars for the sofa and with some upholstery cleaner and a little elbow grease they managed to uncover a very lovely fabric. She pointed out that they had purchased some fabric at the annual yardage sale at one of the local yardage shops and sewed up some nice accent cushions and covered a valance for over the living room window with the help of Michael and of course their lumberyard buddies. They had a small rocking chair that Liz’s grandmother had given her when she was younger and Liz told him she had made a cushion for the seat that coordinated with the rest of the room. Max was becoming more and more impressed with her by the minute. There just seemed to be no end to her talents.

She explained to him that there are books on any subject you want at the library … and of course there is always the Internet. She told him they also purchased a small portable sewing machine at the year-end sale when they purchased the fabric. It was one of their better decisions. It also helps when you are as compatible as she and Maria are she explained. Max smiled and agreed with her, it was true and then he said...

“A movie sounds like fun Liz. Are you sure you aren’t too tired? I think you and Maria have done wonders with this apartment; it feels very homey and the dinner was excellent.”

“Not at all doc, not tired, and …what’s your pleasure? Also, thank you…it was a lot of work but worth it and dinner, well; it was a joint effort so not as much work as you would think.”

“You’re welcome, now let’s take a look and see what you have.”
Looking at Max with a twinkle in her eye she said in a low, sultry voice,

“Well, I think you already know what I have.”

(Oh shit, did I just say that out loud…good Lord… I’ll scare the ever lovin’shit out of him!)

“Excuse me?” Max looked at her questioningly…

(Did I hear her right…is she flirting with me…Oh I hope so!!!)

“Well, since it came out of my mouth before I thought about it, I think you know what I said.” Liz grinned…

“Well, yes, I heard it and I’m not so sure what you mean by it Liz; I know what I would like it to mean and it’s sort of taken me by surprise. Since last week a lot of things have been running through my mind and I can’t seem to shake them, so I am just going to say this out loud, get it off my chest and see where it leads.” Max inhaled a large breath and thought to himself ‘let’s hope I don’t scare her to death but here goes, it needs to be said out loud’.

“Liz, I think I have wanted to be with you since we were too young to know what being together meant. Then as time went by you were too young for me to even think of things like that…therefore I put it out of my head and just loved you as my friend. I don’t want to love you as just my friend anymore, I want to love you the way my heart wants to love you and has wanted to for a very long time and not the way my head tells me to. I think that’s what I want Liz.”

Liz just stood there dumbstruck. She could only look at him with tears streaming down her cheeks and then she knelt before him in front of the DVD cabinet and took both of his hands in hers. She looked him square in his beautiful golden eyes and made her confession.

“Max. I have loved my friend forever but I have been in love with him since I was ten years old, YES, TEN! She emphasized. There hasn’t been a time when you haven’t been in my life. I have loved you for so long that I have just taken it for granted. You have wiped my nose, helped me up when I fell down, taught me how to swim, and walked me to and from kindergarten. You made sure I was always taken care of and that nobody ever picked on me. If you have trouble believing that I have been in love with you since I was a mere child of ten then ask Maria. She has lived through my ramblings about you since… forever. She also knows when my feelings for you changed into something more. Now, I hope this doesn’t scare either of us anymore than I think we already are but, Max, come to bed with me. That is the only place I want to be; safe and happy in your arms!”

Max watched her face through her entire speech and his heart about jumped out of his chest. He reached up and wiped away her tears with his thumbs and he cupped her head in his large hands as he had done so many times before. He could not believe the emotions running through his body. He wanted to laugh, cry, scream and shout with joy all at the same time. ‘What the hell was happening and why did it take so long to happen’ he asked himself?

Without another word and a smile on his face he takes both of her small hands in his and slowly stands. He pulls her up with him and then he leans over and puts his right arm behind her legs at the knees and lifts her effortlessly into his arms. Liz wrapped both of her arms around him and he carried her into her room. He slowly sat her on her bed and started to remove her tank top, never taking his eyes away from her beautiful face. She slowly started unbuttoning his shirt. They watched each other intently, smiling at the same time. Max slowly stood her up and reached for the zipper on her jeans and she did the same for him. She slowly slipped the jeans from her hips and let them fall to the floor. He slipped out of his and then, all of a sudden it dawned on him. He has no protection!!!

“Oh My God Liz, we can’t do this!!! I don’t have anything! “

Liz looks at him with confusion on her face and then suddenly it dawns on her what he is saying. She has a huge grin on her face and tells him to check out the bathroom medicine chest, try the left side drawer. “Michael has a huge stash in there.” Max runs to the bathroom, dressed only in his boxers, and opens the drawer under the counter of the bathroom sink just about the same time as Michael ambles in. Michael gives him a knowing look and just grins at him. Michael reaches for the box of condoms and holds it out to Max who can only grin back. Max takes one and Michael just raises an eyebrow and continues to hold the box out to Max who takes two more.

“I’ll pay you back Michael.” Max says…

“Hey, they’re on me.” Michael grins back at his best friend…

“Thanks man!” is his only reply.

As Max leaves the bathroom it dawns on him…she’s a virgin. “Oh please God, don’t let me screw this up” he whispers out loud and heads back to her room.

Michael stands there smiling. ‘It’s about damn time.’ He thinks to himself.

*~*~*

There she is in all of her innocence, just waiting for him with great anticipation and the sweetest smile he thinks he has ever seen. There is no doubt or worry on her face…only pure love and trust.

“Did you find them?” she asks. He just smiles and opens his hand…she takes a look at the wad of packages and gives him a sexy little grin.

“It looks like we are planning a very busy evening.” His cheeks start to turn a beet red and she just giggles. She opens both her arms and uses her fingers to motion him to her.

“Come here Max, we have waited far too long for this.” This looks like the same motion she used to use when she was a baby and wanted lifted out of her swing seat, sweet is the only word he can think of to describe her.

He leans over her and slowly lifts her up to unclasp her bra, which he removes while planting kisses all over her exposed upper body. He then reaches down and effortlessly slides her panties down her legs, ‘oh sweet jeezus just look at her! Don’t let me lose it before we even get started.’ Max begs anyone listening…

Then Max removes his boxers and Liz just stares at him. This is the first time she has seen an entirely naked man and this has to be the most beautiful man on God’s green earth. How has he managed to hide that body from the world all of this time? There definitely has to be a law somewhere that prevents someone from looking like this. They had spent many, many days around their pools many, many times, but this is unreal. Those sloppy swimsuits he always wears do nothing for this body. She has been staring at him for what seems like forever…he is starting to feel uneasy.

“Liz, are you alright?”

“Hmm…uh, yeah Max, more than alright!” she gulps out.

Max just lets out a little chuckle and with that he lies next to her on the bed and asks her “Liz, are you sure?” She replies in a very breathless voice,

“Oh God Max, you know I am.”

With that remark Max can’t wait any longer. He puts his hand behind her neck and pulls her face to his. He leans in and starts to kiss her sweet lips…taking his tongue and moving it along her lower lip to gain entrance to her mouth. She opens and allows him entrance and she starts to moan, she is driving him crazy! He then takes his arm and pulls her closer to him and runs his hand down her side and back up to her face as Liz arches into him.

He knows he has to stay in control of his own body and so he takes it very slow and easy as much for him as well as for her, he tries concentrating only on her.

He wants this to be the single most beautiful experience of her life…She just melts. This is the first romantic kiss of their lives and they both could stay like this forever. Soft moans continue to pour out of her mouth. This is so much more than she has ever dreamed of, she feels as though her entire body is melting. She is burning up with pleasure.

‘Do they give lessons on kissing somewhere? Where did he learn to do this?’ she asks herself.

She returns his kiss with all of her heart and soul wrapped into it; she wants to crawl inside of him, she wants him to know how she feels. He smiles and moves his tongue over her lips once again and she opens her mouth to receive him and again they do the dance of lovers with their lips and tongues touching so tenderly that the sensations are burning into their souls Liz thinks she’s died and gone to heaven.

He then starts his exploration of her body, slowly, relishing in the velvety smooth softness of her skin. His hand slowly takes a survey of her shoulders and down her arm; he runs his fingers over her chest and down between her breasts, past her rib cage and to her belly button. He slips his hand around to her backside and rubs little circles along her hips, he kneads her hips ever so softly and she is all but crying for more by now. He pulls her body closer to his, he takes her leg and pulls it up over his and reaches between her legs, he feels like he is melting and his heart is beating so loudly that he thinks he will pass out.

She is still moaning softly and playing with the hairs at the back of his neck as she moves her head to a position where she can reach his ear lobe and she gently sucks and pulls on it gently with her teeth, she shivers in excitement. She runs her tongue around his ear as she lets out little puffs of air on his neck. She is driving him crazy; he is starting to get goose bumps all over his body. She is running her fingers across his chest and down his abdomen ever so lightly, he feels amazing to her.

All of these strange thoughts are running through her mind as her body is waking up to every foreign sensation he is causing in her. He is so soft and so taut all at the same time. How can this be? She has her hands behind his neck again and then starts holding onto his shoulders for dear life. She is beside herself with happiness. She runs her fingers up and down his taut muscles and cannot believe she is here in his arms at last.

She slowly reaches down between their bodies and finds his erection. She needs to feel him; she needs to know what it is that causes all of these sensations in their bodies. As she takes hold of it she can only gasp, it feels like silk to her and as she holds it she notices that it is getting harder and larger. Max releases them from their kiss and looks at her and smiles.

He then whispers in her ear “if you keep it up this will all be over before it ever gets started.” She immediately lets go and kisses him on the cheek, “Sorry, but I’ve never seen nor touched anyone like this before and it’s you, and it’s beautiful and I wanted to know what you felt like! I understand what you are saying but I want to explore you too.”

“That’s a beautiful thought sweetheart but can we leave the anatomy lesson ‘til some other time?”

“Sure as long as you promise I can explore.”

“Oh hell yeah, all you want to angel, all you want to.”

And with that he reaches her breasts and takes one in his hand and starts to massage it slowly… feeling the beauty of the instrument that will one day feed their children. His body is close to betraying him again and he has to take control of his senses quickly…He will not let this evening be ruined by raging hormones. It is too important to her. It must be perfect.

He stops for a second and Liz looks at him, thinking she has done something wrong…he just smiles down at her with a look of love and adoration in his eyes and she knows it’s part of the lovemaking ritual and relaxes. She will learn this from him. They will learn what pleases each other in time. At the sign of her relaxation Max continues his ministrations and, after calming his body down for a second time he reaches back up to her face and holds it in his hands. She is so beautiful and open and so trusting of him. Oh how he prays for the stamina he needs to do this properly. He then kisses her again, very tenderly, and continues on his journey over her body. He again takes her breast into his hand and holds it in readiness for his mouth. Her nipples are standing erect by now and Max is amazed at her acceptance. He runs his tongue over her nipple before sucking, this causes her to bring her hips up closer to the center of his body and they are so close to joining it scares him. He is amazed at how receptive her body is to him.

She is really starting to come alive; her body is starting to feel things she never knew existed. She is on fire and it just seems to keep spreading with each tender touch. She can hardly feel his hands and fingers. It feels like little bolts of electricity shooting at her. This is unreal. It goes beyond anything her imagination could ever dream up. From the top of her head to the tips of her toes she is on fire.

‘Oh God, please let me live through this’ is all that she can think of right now.

After properly attending that breast Max moves his mouth to the other one, he now decides it is time to start his journey to the core of their pleasure. He slowly moves his right hand down over her waist while continuing to suckle on her breast. Liz has continued her exploration of his back and arms but suddenly has become aware of more exciting things taking place within her own body…Max, realizing that she has decided to concentrate on his ministrations to her, takes a look to make sure he is not doing something wrong and all he gets is a very happy, smiling young woman watching him. He melts; having her watch him is really wreaking havoc on his own body, he finds her watching him to be very erotic. He again has to talk to himself and to think only of her.


He continues his ministrations, he leans up and kisses her sweet soft lips again, working his tongue to the inside of her mouth, reaching out for her tongue to softly massage and caress. All the while he continues his journey with his right hand. He has passed her navel and is now resting between her belly button and the valley between her thighs. He finds her nub and begins to rub…slowly…and Liz lets a small groan escape from the back of her throat again causing an added sensation to his tongue as it continues to work its magic in her mouth.

Then she starts to move in rhythm with Max’s hand. She doesn’t seem to have any control over herself and she doesn’t want to. She just wants to enjoy this man she has loved her entire life.

Max continues to rub, very gently at first, but Liz lifts her bottom into his hand to make him go harder. He understands her movement and obliges her eagerly. He then takes his middle finger a little farther south and finds a very wet opening just screaming for attention. He inserts his middle finger and starts his journey, in and out, in and out. She starts to move with him, enjoying each gentle thrust, and Max then inserts another finger increasing the friction. She looks at him with passion, love and trust and he only smiles and continues to ravish her with loving kisses. He finds a spot behind her ear that seems to drive her passions even more. He moves to her ear lobe and gently sucks and then blows soft warm air over her neck, which only increases the pleasure coming from between her legs and causes a little shiver to ripple through her body. He continues with his ministrations, coming out of her folds with long strides up to her clitoris and back down into the folds of her core and she is writhing in such pleasure that he all but loses it again.

He is really having a tough time controlling himself, ‘Please, let me hang on,’ is his only prayer. It doesn’t take him long to achieve his goal. She starts to move her hips involuntarily; pressing harder into his hand and then her legs start to stiffen and quiver. She shakes and shudders all over, little spasms erupt from her middle and she is on her way, her juices run down over Max’s long fingers and onto his hand, she continues her orgasm as her body quakes over and over. She has never felt anything like this in her life. Max can only smile at his accomplishment; he is really pleased that she enjoyed this. But he knows there is more to come.

It is amazing how much her pleasure has pleasured him.

She looks up at him in her anticlimactic state and says breathlessly “What about you?” He smiles at her and tells her “it’s coming”…but that was for you. She thanks him profusely and then he starts his love dance all over again. She is primed and ready.

Max begins by journeying down her body with his lips. He slowly plants kisses all the way to his final destination. He has never performed this act of love on another person in his life…but this is something he really wants to do for her. He again takes her breasts into his hands while hovering over her. He continues planting little kisses on her abdomen and then scoots down to the foot of the bed. He kneels on the floor at the foot of the bed and he places his arms under her thighs and brings them up over his fore arms as he kneels in front of her and slowly, gently, pulls her to him.

She is now looking at him with big wide eyes; she is not sure she wants what she thinks is about to happen, she is embarrassed by this action but Max gives her an assuring look and she accepts and trusts him.

He gently spreads her legs farther apart in front of him and places tender kisses on her inner thighs; he separates her lower lips with his thumbs. He then takes her nub into his mouth and begins to suckle her. She bolts right up off the bed; Max raises his eyes up to watch her and he can’t believe the passion that is emanating from her. The trust she has in him is enough to send him over the edge once again. He places his mouth over her entrance and puts his tongue into her folds. She comes up off the mattress with a jolt and moans continue to emanate from her throat. He can’t believe the sensations running through his own body at this time. He has never felt this kind of power over someone in his entire life and it is truly the ultimate turn-on and to think it is for Liz.

He really is having a rough time controlling himself.

He moves his mouth again and lightly sucks on her nub and slowly slips one of his fingers into to her opening. He then inserts another one into her. He starts a rhythm with his mouth and fingers that bring her to her end so quickly he is shocked. She shivers and gyrates all over the place. Her head is twisting from side to side and she has clamped down on his head with her legs. She has him in a death grip. He is overwhelmed at what he is doing to her, he doesn’t want to stop but she begs... PLEASE … NO MORE…He can’t believe that he could bring her to this state of arousal. She continues to climax for what seems like forever.

She releases her grip and looks at him in disbelief. She is completely breathless. She can’t believe she just did that. Max stands before her with the largest erection he has ever had in his life. This last episode has all but brought him to his end without even thinking about it. Liz sees his condition and motions to him once again to come to her.

It is time to do something for him. She holds out her arms to him and opens her legs
Max takes a condom from the night table and opens the foil…he starts to roll it on but Liz takes it from his hand and says, “Let me.” Max gives her the condom and she leans forward and places a kiss right on the tip of his erection before she gently rolls it onto him but not before tasting the creamy white excretion seeping out. Max’s eyes about bug out of his head and he almost loses it again. He cannot believe how receptive she is to him. She takes a long hungry look at the erection on the man she loves; she is in awe of him and she opens her legs wide to accept her lover for the first time in her life. She can hardly wait.

Max leans forward on his forearms and looks down into those lovely brown eyes of hers. He starts to kiss her once again; he can’t help himself. He just can’t seem to get close enough to her. He takes his erect penis in his hand and slowly rubs it over her clitoris and down to her folds a few times. Liz starts to moan again and then he enters her body carefully, knowing full well that this is going to be a brand new experience for both of them. He silently prays, ‘Please God, don’t let me hurt her’.

He allows her time to adjust to him before going too deep. She is very wet and ready for this but still extremely tight. He inches his way slowly…stopping about every inch in order for her to adjust to him. She just cradles his face in her tiny hands and smiles, urging him on. She wants this experience to be as memorable for him as it is for her.

He soon reaches her barrier and leans forward to kiss her gently. He slides his arms under her shoulders and tells her he loves her and that he will try not to hurt her too much. With that statement she wraps her legs around him and thrusts her hips up against him and forces him into her. His eyes damn near cross on him at the feelings his body is experiencing, both mental and physical. God how he loves her, but she has just scared the hell out of him.

He looks at her and asks, “Are you alright?”

She barely squeaks out ”yes!”

He says, “OH God Liz, why?”

And she says, “Max, I have had menstrual cramps that were worse.”

Max just looks at her and smiles… and proceeds to make love to this beautiful woman.

He leans into her and plants a soft kiss on the tip of her nose then starts to kiss her sweet lips again, so gently she hardly feels him. She gets used to the feel of his erection and her body starts to move, just slight little movements at first, curiosity is getting the best of her and she needs to feel him. Max is aware that she is beginning to get used to him and he starts to move slowly in and out setting a comfortable rhythm in tune with Liz’s giving her a chance to feel comfortable, she feels marvelous. He continues to kiss her beautiful lips and face.

Although Liz has just experienced two of the most powerful orgasms of her young life she cannot believe that anything else could feel any better. He is so big and causes so much friction and it feels so good that she has totally forgotten any pain associated with the experience that took place a minute ago. Max shifts his position just slightly to find the right spot; he has taken her body to places she could never dream of going and here he goes again.

He continues with his thrusts, slow and deep. He looks down onto her lovely face and his heart melts. He continues to pleasure them and then he feels his end approaching …he needs to wait for her…she is so close …he can feel her tensing. ”Liz, look at me baby” He wants to see as well as feel the experience. He can feel her starting to tense up more …”Liz, look at me” he says again. She opens her big brown eyes and sees the passion in his golden stare…she can only gasp and then Max starts to move faster. As he picks up the pace Liz adjusts her rhythm to his and her legs start to quiver and her body starts to shake all over. Max takes longer strokes coming past her sensitive nub with each outward stroke which increases the friction between their two bodies and then she lets out with a loud moan that starts in the back of her throat and comes out of her mouth in a loud, almost scream. Her muscles start to contract around him and he can’t believe that she could possibly get any tighter. He is starting to make loud guttural sounds that emanate from low in his throat. He can feel her juices surrounding his taut shaft and he finally gives his body the release it has been clamoring for all evening. He moves deep within her and his body jerks violently while planting his seed deeper and deeper with each thrust of his hips. His mouth finds hers and they swallow each other’s moans…they are in another world.

He can’t believe the feelings he is experiencing. Nothing like this has ever happened to him before. They both continue to explode. This has to be the longest orgasm he has ever had. The imagination could never do these feelings the justice they deserve. It is the single most gratifying experience he has ever felt. Liz is just plain weak. She wonders if she’ll ever be able to walk again without assistance.

Michael and Maria aren’t sure what they just heard but are pretty certain that Liz and Max are having a successful visit with each other. They just snuggle up and go to sleep.

“Great dinner party!” Michael says…Maria answers lazily…”Mmmm Hmmmm.” And they both go back to sleep.

*~*~*

Could life be any better? Yes, it could.

Max looks at Liz and has only two words for her. “Marry Me.”

She smiles the biggest smile he has ever seen. “YES!” is her one word reply.

Max stays inside of Liz for a very long time… He doesn’t want this feeling to ever end. He pulls the covers up around them and then he rolls over, taking her with him, and holding her in his arms they fall into a deep and restful sleep.

They awaken a few hours later and Max looks down into Liz’s face and sees a questioning look there.

“What’s wrong Liz?”

She says “nothing”. And then continues to look at him.

“Are you sure, because it looks like you have something on your mind.”

“I do” is her reply.

“Well then, tell me.”

“Can we do it again?” she asks.

Max starts to chuckle and gives her a big hug and a huge grin.

“You betcha.”

Liz just giggles at his reply; with that he rolls her over onto her back and proceeds to make love to her all over again.

They will “do it again” before breakfast as well…Michael was right, he needed more than one condom!

*~*~*

They have a lot to do in the next few weeks. There will be no prolonged engagement for this couple. They have to get on with their lives together as quickly as possible. There is too much living left to do together and they don’t want to waste another minute getting started. .

The Beginning.

[mary mary]

Amanda:Thank you so much...
Jan:There you go, boosting my ego again. Glad you liked it...the rest is not quite as HOT as this chapter but some of it has it's moments.
jESsah:Thank you so much...I've never felt comfortable with the first 6 chapters of this story but it is what it is, to quote my daughter, so I guess that means it's as good as it gets.
Destiny:I sorta thought you'd like it!
Carolyn:He was right!

*~*~*

Chapter: 8

After their night of ‘getting acquainted’ Max and Liz shared their news with Michael and Maria over a breakfast of pancakes, eggs, bacon, toast, juice and coffee.

Max and Liz kept looking at Michael and Maria…waiting for some sort of acknowledgment that Max was still there…

Michael and Maria kept eating away, pretty much ignoring Max and Liz mostly because they didn’t really know what to say to their friends.

Finally Max breaks the silence:

“Liz and I are getting married in a couple of weeks”,

just as if he was announcing that it was raining out. That ought to bring some excitement to this table he thought to himself as he shoved a piece of bacon into his mouth.

Michael and Maria both stopped chewing and just stared at the two of them in utter shock.

Neither of them knew what to say or how to act and they were making Max and Liz very uncomfortable.

Max says, with a puzzled look on his face. “Well, spit it out!”

With that Michael just bursts into laughter and then Maria and Liz join in…Max doesn’t know whether to laugh or to get pissed off at them. He finally sees the humor in all of this and starts laughing along with the rest of them, it really is insane when you think about it.

When they’ve all calmed down Liz and Max swear Michael and Maria to secrecy until they break the news to their parents.

Michael and Maria both assure them that none of their parents are going to be surprised about a pending marriage between them. The speed in which the nuptials are going to take place may be a surprise but certainly not the marriage.

Max and Liz both look at Michael and Maria with puzzled looks on their faces and Max asks no one in particular,” What do you mean by that?”

Maria pops up with, “Max, everyone that knows you two has just been waiting for this.”

Max cannot believe this. He asks Maria in a somewhat confused tone,

“Just what in the hell does that mean? Why would you say that? Liz and I have never given anyone any reason to think that we were anything but friends.”

Michael pops up with, “Yeah, right!”

Michael ponders that for a minute then asks Max, with the straightest face he can muster,

“Max, are you serious man? You two have never dated each other but yet you have always gone everywhere together. You never mentioned any feelings you may have had toward one another other than friendship and yet neither one of you has ever dated anyone else seriously. Then, after one dinner together, you manage to share your bodies with each other and decide to get married. Don’t you find this just a little strange? Max, friends do not sleep with each other, especially after one dinner that can’t even be considered a date, where’s your head man?”

Max thinks about this for a minute and then looks at Michael and says, “Why in the hell didn’t you tell me?”

Michael just shakes his head and sticks a piece of bacon in his mouth. “For an intelligent person you surely are dense sometimes.” He looks over at Maria and shrugs his shoulders…what a piece of work!

Liz looks at Maria and says…”do you feel this way too?”

Maria looks at Liz and says,” Girlfriend… you’re kidding… right?”

Max and Liz just look at each other and shake their heads…they guess this won’t come as such a surprise to everyone after all.

*~*~*

Later that afternoon Max and Liz go to Liz’s parent’s house and call Max’s mom to come over. Diane gets her coat from the closet and with a smile on her face she wanders over to the Parkers.

She wonders what these two are up to since Max was only supposed to have dinner with Liz, Maria and Michael last night and he never came home…this was a first for her son.

When Diane arrives at the Parkers she finds Jeff and Nancy sitting comfortably on the couch in the living room and Liz and Max are bringing a tray in with coffee and cake on it. Max looks at his mother a little sheepishly and says “Hi mom.”

Diane acknowledges him with a smile and says, “Good morning Max, Sleep well?” Then Max starts to turn beet red. Liz just giggles, gives Diane a nod and continues to pour coffee and serve cake.

Max puts the tray on the coffee table and takes hold of Liz’s hand and announces to the parents,

“Liz and I have something to tell all of you.”

The parents exchange a knowing look between them, smile at their children and patiently wait with their hands folded neatly in their laps.

Max and Liz are taking all of this in and realize that Michael and Maria were right. Everyone has just been waiting for them to figure out what the rest of them already knew.
But…they’ll bet they don’t know everything.

“Well… Mom, Jeff, Nancy…Liz and I are going to get married in the next couple of weeks.”

Diane grabs hold of Nancy and Jeff’s hands and they all get the most flabbergasted looks on their faces; the kids have a tough time controlling the urge to laugh at them; they all look so comical.

Max leans over and whispers in Liz’s ear, “Wow, this is fun!” Liz looks up into his eyes and giggles at him…then she mouths “you’re rotten!” Max looks at her and nods.

Jeff looks at the two of them as if they both have two heads.

Diane is the first to say anything. “Max, is there some reason why you want to get married in a couple of weeks…shouldn’t you make plans or… I don’t know… something?” she manages to get out with a high-pitched squeak.

Nancy says “yes! Why so fast?”

Max tells them all … “Why wait? We know what we want and we can’t see any reason to postpone it!”

Nancy finally gets her thoughts together and asks her daughter, “Liz honey, don’t you want a wedding?”

“Not really Mom, I just want Max.”

Max squeezes her hand and interjects his thoughts.

“We understand what you are saying, but we don’t want to postpone what is going to happen so we can spend the next few months in a whirlwind of plans just to have a large party that is going to cost a fortune when the only thing we really want is to start spending the rest of our lives together as husband and wife.”

Nancy and Diane both look at each other and shrug their shoulders. They’re right, but both women feel the kids should have some sort of celebration. Then Jeff speaks up.

“Liz, does this have anything to do with my illness?”

Liz looks at her dad and walks over and gives him a big hug. “No dad, this has nothing to do with you. It’s all about Max and me.”

With that Jeff smiles and tells the women that if this is what the kids want then that’s what they shall have. They should not interfere with their decisions in any way…they are both adults and know what they want to do.

Then Nancy asks them if they know where they would like this marriage to take place. They both look at each other and Liz says, “We haven’t really gotten that far.”

Then Max pipes up and says, “The chapel in the hospital is beautiful.”

He is sure the hospital chaplain, Father O’Brien, would be more than happy to accommodate them since they don’t want a large group it would be the perfect choice.

They all agree that this sounds like a great idea. The chapel holds about forty people and they are sure that Maria’s and Michael's parents would want to attend as well as their grandparents, especially grandma Claudia.

They all give each other a knowing smile.

Grandma Claudia will not miss this for a million dollars; Liz and Grandma Claudia just have something that you can’t put into words…it’s like they are one with each other.

*~*~*

Later that day Jeff called his mother and let her know the latest news from their house and she is just elated.

If anyone could ever be happy over this news it would be Claudia.

“Oh Jeff, you don’t know how happy this makes me.”

Jeff says, “I know mom, we are all elated about the marriage but there’s more, they want to do this within the next week or so.”

The line goes dead for a second and then Claudia says, “Well, we all know that when Liz sets her mind to something it’s now or never.”

Jeff just laughs at that statement, it’s true.

Then Claudia asks, “Is Liz there? Can I speak with her?”

“No mom, both she and Max have gone to see the priest over at the hospital. That’s where they want to get married.”

The phone line goes silent again and finally Claudia asks, “Why?”

Jeff tells her, “Well, they just want the family and a few friends and Max really likes the chapel so they are looking into it as we speak.”

Claudia says “oh” and then she tells him that she will have a surprise for Liz when she arrives. She will make reservations to come as soon as they get off the phone and she will let him know when to expect her.

She then asks how he is doing and he tells her that he’s still trying to regain his strength and the last chemotherapy he had was his final treatment. He is in remission and will be monitored every three months to make sure there are no more out breaks.

This makes his mother doubly happy and she tells him how much she loves him and how proud of him she is. He is close to tears right now for a couple of reasons and Claudia tells him she will be seeing him within the next day or two.

*~*~*

[mary mary]

Jan: Hey! Watch it...
Carolyn: Breakfast was great!
Destinyc: OH YEAH!!! You're bad...
JEsSaH:Thank you so much for your support.

*~*~*
A/N: All right, you all know I write fluff, so here's some more!
Chapter: 9


Things fall into place

Claudia hung up the phone with Jeff and immediately called her travel agent at her home since the woman did not work on Sunday.

“Sylvia, I am so sorry for disturbing you on a Sunday morning but there has been an emergency at my sons and I need to make reservations to leave as soon as possible with an open return.”

The agent smiled into the phone even though Claudia could not see her and she said,

“Claudia, this is why I give my favorite customers my home address. Just how soon do you need to travel and to where?”

“No later than Wednesday Sylvia, but Tuesday would be preferable.”

“Great…I’ll get right to work on it. You know that the farther away you make these reservations the cheaper the tickets don’t you?”

“Yes, I realize this, but it’s necessary that I get there as soon as possible. Thank you Sylvia, I’ll be waiting to hear from you.”

So Claudia told her where and when and then the two old friends exchanged pleasantries before hanging up. Claudia knew if she had told her friend what the emergency was she would not have agreed with her so she kept that news to herself. Sylvia did know about Jeff’s condition and would only assume that it had something to do with him. That suited Claudia just fine…it really wasn’t lying, just not telling the whole story.

Claudia then headed to the attic to dig her wedding dress out of her old trunk. She and Liz are the same size and build that she was at twenty-three and she knew she was saving this dress for some reason.

The style is timeless, Claudia thought to herself. She hadn’t seen the dress since Liz was a tiny little thing and had wanted to play house in it. Claudia smiled…white Alanson lace, long pointed sleeves, high Queen Anne collar and just the right length train of three tulle ruffles starting at the waist in the back with the bottom ruffle laying about three feet on the ground and tapering to floor length around the entire perimeter of the gown. Each ruffle is about twenty four inches wide and they are attached to the gown with a lace border. The top of the gown is see-through lace over a taffeta lining, it is form fitted to the waist, which drops off to a point before fanning out to form a full circular skirt. The entire gown is lined in white taffeta and gives the bodice of the gown the appearance of being strapless covered in lace. All in all it is very elegant and Liz will look like a doll in it. Let’s just hope she doesn’t put up a fuss about wearing a gown.

Claudia has no intentions of telling anyone of her plans about bringing the gown; it will be her surprise for Liz.

*~*~*

Liz and Max called Father O’Brien and told him of their plans and wanted to know when they could come and see him. He told them that he was in his office right now and to come right over…

When they got there Liz saw this smiling, robust, white haired gentleman sitting in his office behind this huge cherry wood desk. The office was right off the chapel on the main floor of the hospital. It wasn’t a very large room but very cozy.

After Max introduced Liz to the old priest he had them sit down and asked them,

“Well, what do you two have in mind this beautiful Sunday morning?”

What they have in mind? Well Max proceeded to tell him that they would like to get married in the chapel here in the hospital and asked if he would perform the ceremony.

The old priest was quite taken aback with their request and said,

“Well, Max, this is a first as far as I know. The chapel is for the use of the patients, visitors and the staff. I don’t know about this.”

“Well father, I’m part of the staff so I don’t see any problem with that.”

“Hmmm, I guess you’re right about that. Did you have any special time and day you wanted this to take place?”

“Yes father…as soon as possible.” And Max took hold of Liz’s hand, kissed her knuckles and gave her a sweet smile as he waited for the priest to answer his question then he continued with his explanation to the priest.

“We really don’t want to wait any longer than we have to wait father and we don’t want a civil ceremony.” Max threw that in just for a little extra incentive for the old priest to make him agree with him. Not nice but sometimes it helps to play a little guilty card if you have it.

(And the old man smiled and looked at his frail wife and kissed her hand as he continued to remember.)

Then the usual question…

”WHY?

Max and Liz looked at each other and grinned.

“Father, the only reason for the rush is that we want to start our lives together as soon as possible.”

The old priest knew Max and thought very highly of him and he never knew him to make irrational decisions so he was willing to make an exception. This will be all right, won’t it? He asked himself. He just won’t say anything to anybody. He will have to tell the hospital administrator but he’s sure she’ll be fine with it, the old priest thought to himself.

Max tells the priest that there doesn’t have to be a mass and all of the falderal that goes with it if Father would rather not…Father just smiled and told him "It's okay Max, we will do it properly."

The old priest, for some reason, was willing to go along with the request and told Max that as soon as they had their blood tests and license they could do this whenever they wanted to.

Max shakes Father’s hand and thanks him as does Liz and they leave the old priest to sit and wonder what just happened.

After leaving the priests office Max headed over to the lab and ordered up two premarital blood tests; one for Liz and one for him. He held Liz’s hand through the entire procedure as if she were a child…he loves her so much and now that he realizes he’s in love with her he just wants to be with her forever, his happiness was overwhelming to him.

The technician had them sit in a chair and proceeded to draw Liz’s blood first…’boy is she a fox’ he thinks to himself. Then he draws Max’s blood. He tells them the test results will be ready in three days. Max tells him “thanks” and then puts his hand on Liz’s back and leads her out of the lab…this is Sunday and that means they can have the test results by Wednesday and be married on Saturday. Oh this is great!

Max and Liz head back to Liz’s house and when they get there they tell their parents everything they know up to this point, it looks as though they will be getting married on Saturday, their parents cannot believe what they are hearing…how can they do this so quickly?

*~*~*

When Max and Michael were back at work on Monday Max had sworn Michael to secrecy. He was not to tell a soul in the hospital what his plans were and Michael agreed to keep his secret. Michael had no idea that the wedding would be taking place here in the hospital chapel.

Max grabbed Michael’s shoulder before he headed off to obstetrics to check on his patients and says,

“Hey, how about you come with me on Wednesday to rent tuxes?”

Michael eyed Max curiously,

“What do you need a tux for man? You’re not having a wedding, are you?”

Max smiled back at him, he knew that whatever Liz chose to wear it was going to be beautiful.

“Just humor me here, ok?”

Michel still looked puzzled but agreed…and with that the two young doctors headed off in their separate directions.

Max got off work around three that afternoon and headed to his mother’s favorite jeweler to find the perfect wedding set for Liz.

He chose a two-carat princess cut diamond with two smaller princess cut stones on each side of the center stone. Bordering each side of the mountings is a row of trillions. They are set within the elevation of the mounting posts with one on each end of the ring as well. The wedding band is a plain wide gold band that is a very fitting match for the beautiful engagement ring.

Max was beside himself with happiness, he found the perfect ring. Liz will love it.

He had the wedding band engraved and it will be ready for pick up on Thursday…he remembered to bring a ring of Liz’s to the jewelers for the correct sizing; he went through her jewelry box while he was at the apartment and found a ring he could ‘borrow’. He didn’t want her to ever have to take her wedding ring off once he put it on her finger.

He will tell her that it has an engraving on it but he will save that information for another time. He practically danced out of the jewelers…he was on cloud nine!

*~*~*

That same day Liz was driving Maria nuts with her calm demeanor.

“Liz, what is wrong with you? You’re acting like you’re going to buy groceries or something instead of planning a wedding. Get nervous with the rest of us for God’s sake.” Maria was driving Liz nuts with her antics.

Maria was pacing and wringing her hands together and Liz was standing there looking at her like she had three heads.

“Maria, what in the hell is going on with you? For God’s sake, why are you going all ape shit on me here? Get your self together …we don’t have time for your dramatics!” Liz wanted to wring her neck...

It’s certainly going to be a nerve-wracking experience when she and Michael get married that’s for sure. Liz had about decided that she didn’t even want to be in the same state with Maria when it happened.

Liz finally got her calmed down enough to get dressed and go with her to the bridal shop to pick out her dress, Maria said to her…

“Liz, why do I need a special dress if this is not going to be a large wedding?”

“Just humor me Maria and get the damn dress already…and please, pick something out that you really like and that you will be able to wear again. This will be my gift to you.”

So Maria found a gorgeous spaghetti strap dress in a light peach color made of silk crepe. It was floor length and form fitted. It zipped up the back and had small self-belt that tied in a tiny bow at the front. The straight skirt was slit up the back to just above the knee and was very elegant looking. The lining felt almost like there was nothing there it was so fine.

The color looked positively gorgeous on her with her long blond hair, Liz was so happy for her and Maria couldn't figure out why she needed this.

Liz knew the perfect place to buy the shoes to match the dress so they headed on over to Liz’s favorite shoe store to get the shoes.

She had Maria take the dress in with them and caught the eye of Jerry, her favorite clerk.

“Hi Jerry, how have you been?”

“Fine Liz and you?”

“Oh, can’t complain. Hey Jerry, my friend here needs a pair of shoes to match this dress.” She had Maria lift the corner of the garment bag so Jerry could take a peek at the dress inside.

Jerry took a look at the dress and told Liz,

“Gee Liz, we don’t have anything in the store that will match that.”

Liz smiled sweetly at Jerry and said,

“Then I guess you’ll just have to dye a pair, huh.”

Jerry smiled just as sweetly at Liz and rebuts with,

“Well let’s just have a look at that dress again.” And Liz complied.

Jerry used the stores’ computer to match the color of the dress with the color of dye they will need and tells Liz the shoes will be ready on Thursday. There shouldn’t be any trouble dying the shoes and they will do it free of charge since Maria chose a very sexy sandal type three-inch heel with nothing but thin little straps to hold it on her foot. They really are quite cute and will go with the dress nicely.

Liz smiled back at the clerk very sweetly and said,

“Thanks Jerry…we’ll see you on Thursday.”

Jerry just smiled to himself as the girls exited the store…that Liz Parker sure knows how to get what she wants. (You better believe it.)

After the bridal and shoe shops are taken care of Liz headed on over to the jewelry store and found a wedding band for Max.

Liz called Diane at the office.

“Hey Diane, do you, by chance, know what size ring Max wears?”

“No I don’t sweetie. Where are you? I’ll meet you there with his high school ring and you can have it sized by the jeweler.” Diane says…

“Great! Do you know the jeweler located at 5th and Main?”

“Of course I do. I know John from way back in high school. I’ll be there in about 45 minutes. I’ll need to run home first. How are things going?” Diane asked with a smile in her voice.

“They’re going great actually. Maria found a dress and shoes and now I’m working on Max’s ring. Oh, and Diane, can you just have the jeweler size the ring…I really have a lot to get done today?” Liz answers her dear friend and future mother-in-law.

“Of course I can, and Liz, enjoy this. Okay?”

“You know I will Diane. Thank you.” And the two women hang up with smiles on their faces.

Diane told the receptionist that she’s going to be gone for a while and to take messages for her. She also told her that Liz will be gone for the entire afternoon and to take messages for her as well. The receptionist wants to know if everything is all right and Diane informed her that things couldn’t be better. With that she left the office.

Since Max isn’t much of a jewelry person Liz chose a very nice medium width gold band with a small ridge etched on either side, very masculine looking. There were three diamonds in a beveled setting spread across the center of the ring. She was sure Max would like it.

The jeweler had time to engrave it before Saturday so Liz sits down to write her message and hands it to the jeweler (I will love you til the end of time my love) before Maria had to chance to ask her what she was up to.

Liz told the jeweler she will be back on Thursday or Friday to pick the ring up and then found Maria who was busy looking at wedding sets in the display case. Liz told the jeweler that Max’s mother would be in with a ring that he could use for sizing and bids him goodbye.

*~*~*

When Diane showed up with the high-school ring the jeweler measured it for size and everything looked like great. She had just missed Liz and Maria by about ten minutes.

Diane, after exchanging pleasantries with John, took Max's ring with her to put it back where she found it. You never knew what Max may decide to look through and find it missing. She didn’t want to spoil Liz’s surprise.

John put two and two together and figured out that Max Evans is finally going to marry that cute little Liz Parker. Wait until she sees what Max chose for her, wow!

*~*~*

“Liz, what are you going to wear? You didn’t look at one thing in the bridal shop, is there something you’re not telling me here?” Maria asked in her usual, tell me now or I’ll belt you one, tone of voice.

Liz just smiled. She knew her grandmother better than anyone else on earth and she remembered asking her grandmother when she was a very little girl if she could put her wedding gown on. Grandma said someday…wellllll…someday is here!

After they left the jewelry store Liz headed on over to the florist shop and ordered three boutonnieres and a small bouquet of peach colored roses for Maria.

Again they took Maria’s dress with them to give the florist an idea of the color peach they were looking for.

She ordered a small bouquet of white roses for herself and then she ordered a pink corsage for her mother, a blue one for Diane and each of the four grandmothers would get peach and white corsages since she had no idea what they would be wearing.

She ordered a corsage of mauve roses for Isabelle just in case she showed up since mauve roses were Isabelle’s favorite. If Isabelle can’t make it they can always put the flowers in a vase or something.

Then she ordered an extra bouquet for the side altar at the chapel. She didn’t know if there was a side altar of the Blessed Virgin but she should be prepared.

She then asked the florist if he could deliver two large baskets with fern and large white bows to the hospital chapel on Saturday along with tall candelabra to stand behind the baskets of fern and put tall white tapers in the candelabra. The florist tells her absolutely.

She also wanted a garland of fern and white ribbon strung along the pews on the aisle side of the chapel with a large white bow at each pew. There are six pews on each side…

Liz told him she will pay extra for them to remove the baskets and bows at about 4:00 p.m. on Saturday because there is usually a service for the hospital staff at 6:00 p.m. every Saturday evening.

The florist said he would be happy to do this at no charge for her and she just couldn't thank him enough. He explained that the only charge would be for the candles since they would be used for the ceremony. Everyone is making this so easy for her that she can hardly believe it.

She then ordered seven small centerpieces all in peach and white for the tables that she will be ordering from the caterer. She and Maria will use their bouquets as a centerpiece on the bride’s table.

The florist then took a picture of Maria’s gown with his digital camera so he could use it to match the color to the colors of the flowers they will be dying for the bouquets.

After she finished at the florist she headed off to her favorite bakery and ordered a two tiered wedding cake with white butter cream frosting and decorated with peach flowers. She wanted the icing between the layers to be strawberry cream.

Again, Maria’s dress had determined the color scheme of things thus making the decision for color extremely easy.

Liz chose a set of porcelain doves sitting on top of a lattice pedestal for a cake top and she wanted peach colored icing piped onto the latticework of the pedestal to give the pedestal more depth. (Damn those art classes in college!) She wished she had Michael with her at this point in the day….damn, he could take care of this so much easier she thought to herself. But, truth be known, she really wouldn’t have anybody else take care of this for her. She knew exactly what she wanted and although it was going to be small it would be elegant.

She explained…

“I want the two layers separated by tiers rather than having the cake nestled one on top of the other and I want a white border piped onto the divider with peach colored flowers piped between the tiers for a nicer effect.”

Trisha told her there wouldn't be any problem doing that. The cake would be delivered to her parent’s home on Saturday morning.

Trisha also took a digital picture of Maria’s dress for the right color of peach and Liz was amazed at the proficiency of these people.

There is so much more work involved in these professions than she had ever thought. She just thought they took a bucket of icing and started working their magic. Oh well, life is just full of surprises.

Then it’s off to the caterers.

She ordered dinner for thirty people to be served on Saturday afternoon at the Parker residence along with a champagne fountain and the proper wines to be served from wine buckets at each table, along with the usual coffee and tea for beverages.

She wanted the champagne punch to be served from the fountain to be set up in the reception hall of her home with floor length linens on the table. She wanted silver punch cups and peach colored napkins.

She told Tom she wanted at least six different appetizers to be served while the guests were arriving and standing around waiting for dinner to be served and also enough for the party that would follow out on the patio.

She requested that all of the place settings be silver, china and crystal. And, just to be on the safe side, please allow about 10 extra dinners…they can always freeze the leftovers; she certainly didn’t want anyone going away hungry.

She also requested three waiters and three waitresses dressed in uniforms to do the serving and clean up afterward.

She let the caterer decide what the menu would consist of after she explained what the occasion was. She wanted it to be elegant and she didn’t want fast food of any kind. Everything was to be prepared fresh.

She wanted everything served on silver, china and crystal serving pieces as well, it didn’t have to match the place settings but she definitely didn’t want any plastic anywhere near the guests. Tom informed her that there wouldn’t be.

She informed the caterer that there was a large kitchen in the house and another large, fully equipped kitchen on the enclosed patio in the back yard over looking the pool. They were welcome to use any of the facilities at the house that they might need. There are also two large refrigerators available and there is always the Evans’ kitchen next door if they need more space.

The caterer was very happy to oblige and assured her that the meal would be to her liking and asks if it would be all right with her for them to come over to the house and check out the work areas.

Liz told him that would be great and she would inform her parents to expect them in case she wasn’t there.

She also told him that a cleaning crew would be coming in to clean the house and move furniture around on Friday and if they would like to coordinate their visit with the cleaning crew and help decide how to arrange things she would be glad to give him the number.

The caterer was amazed at the efficiency of this young woman and told her that sounded like an excellent idea. She gave him a killer smile and it about knocked Tom off his feet.

Liz also informed Tom of the size of her mother’s dining room and living room and ordered seven smaller sized tables and one large table with table linens in white accented in peach along with at least thirty two chairs just in case they need extra. There are always the house chairs if they really need them but she would like everything to match. She asked Tom if they could use some nicer chairs other than the normal folding chairs and he told her that he had three choices of chairs and she told him to bring his best. Tom told her he had covers for the chairs in white if she would like them to use them and Liz told him absolutely…do it. He smiled and agreed. This is so easy.

They can use her mother’s silver candelabra for the bride’s table. Liz has always liked the set her mother got from her father for some occasion or other, she couldn't really remember. It is beautiful and will add a touch of elegance to the table and give a little personal touch as well.

Liz had been to quite a few of this particular caterer’s parties and all of the people that have used him have been more than pleased.

Here it is Monday and everything is about taken care of. She will follow up later in the week to make sure everything is going according to plan and then she bids Tom goodbye.

Tom thinks to himself…what a lucky guy that Max Evans is. WOW!

*~*~*

Max went to see Father O’Brien before starting his shift on Monday afternoon and informed him that everything was taken care of and they would have their license on Wednesday and that they would like to get married on Saturday at 2:00 pm. Father just smiled and told him everything would be ready.

Unbeknownst to Max and Liz Father went to the administrator of the hospital and told her that Max Evans and his fiancé would be getting married in the hospital chapel on Saturday and asked if there was anything special he should do. Sister looked at him and winked and told him she would take care of it.

*~*~*

[mary mary]

Destiny: Will do !
Natalie: Honest...they can be when there are no showers...no invitations...no halls nor DJ's or bands to hire and people who just keep their noses to themselves. Liz doesn't give anyone a chance for input, including Maria. How I wish I was like that sometime.
Jan:Having Nun cousins I know for a fact that they love to get involved in stuff like this. It's a change of 'scenery' for them.
Carolyn: Thanks, it gets a little angsty for a while but it's still fluffy!
jEsSaH: I am so glad that you are enjoying this. I always feel like I spend too much time on incidental b.s...Oh, and take a look at my banner...you can see the dress...I did give it to my granddaughter and it fit...honest.

*~*~*

A/N: Happy Easter Everyone, Happy Passover and all the other things going on today.

*~*~*

Chapter 10:

Tuesday

Max stopped by the girls’ apartment on his way home on Tuesday morning and found Liz and Maria both up and ready for work.

Liz always left about 6:30 a.m. and since she was off due to illness she had a lot of catching up to do. Liz poured Max a cup of coffee, gave him a quick kiss on the lips and asked him if he was hungry. Max kissed her back and said ‘no’ and then he asked her if there was anything she needed done that he could help with and she just gave him a great big smile and told him not to worry, everything was under control…then she thought…pictures!

“Max, would you see if we might be able to hire a photographer for a couple of hours on Saturday. I think it would be nice to have some formal pictures. What do you think?”

“I think it would be great Sweetheart, I’ll be glad to take care of it.”

“Oh, Max, I can stop by the hospital tonight after work and maybe we could grab a bite to eat in the cafeteria if you would like.”

Max smiled a huge smile and said, “Of course I would like…just check in at the receptionist’s desk, I’ll tell her where you can find me.”

Liz said “great” and then she gave him a nice big hug and a quick kiss on the lips before heading out the door.

“How are you holding up?” Maria asked Max with a little grin on her face.

“Great really, I can’t believe this is all happening but I am so happy that I feel like I’m floating.” Max said with a huge grin on his face that matched Maria’s.

“You don’t know how really happy Michael and I are for you two.” Maria told Max, looking as sincere and happy as anyone could possibly look.

“Yes I do Maria. We have known each other all of our lives and this just makes it seem better. I don’t know how to explain it…it’s just better. I feel like something is finally complete.” Max was extremely sincere in his reply…and Maria knew what he meant, they all felt it and she replied…

“Yeah, I know what you mean.”

After he left the apartment Max stopped by the local donut shop for a quick cup of coffee and a few “krispy-kremes”. He grabbed the local telephone book and started checking out photographers and found the one that they used for his graduation pictures.

He didn’t know if the guy did weddings or not because the ad didn’t give much information so Max just wrote down his number along with a few others and then decided to check out the local hotels for Saturday night.

A honeymoon would be in the future but he wanted something nice for this weekend so
he took out his cell phone and proceeded to call the hotels first…a man has his priorities after all.

He found out that the Regency had a lovely bridal suite and it was available this weekend so Max made the reservations and closed his phone, he was beaming. ‘Who said you need months of planning to make things right?’ he thought to himself.

After booking the hotel suite he called the photographer and told him who he was and what he wanted. The photographer recognized Max’s name from his high school girlfriend, it’s Isabelle Evans’ little brother Alex said to himself.

He wondered what ever happened to her. He hadn’t seen her in years; he wondered if she was as beautiful as she was in high school? He hoped that she was at the wedding… unmarried.

The photographer asked Max if he could swing by and they could discuss what Max wanted…Max said,

“Sure, I’ll be there in about twenty minutes.”

Max hurried on over to the photographer’s studio and the man introduced himself as Alex and asked Max to come into his private office. He told the receptionist not to disturb them and proceeded to ask Max some questions.

“How large of a wedding is this Max?” He asked.

“Just the family and a very few friends, it will be at the hospital chapel on Saturday at 2:00 pm and then a small dinner at the home of the bride immediately following. We don’t want anything elaborate…just a few formal pictures for remembrance.” Max replied.

Alex looked at Max with a friendly smile and said, “Max, pictures are a way of recording the events that make up our lives. Now, you let me take care of everything. Please inform the bride that I will be at her home at 1:00 pm on Saturday to take some pictures there before heading over to the chapel.” Then he asked Max where he lived and Max told him right next door to the bride. “Great, Max. You can expect me at your house around 12:00 and be dressed and ready by then.” Max agreed and said he would tell Liz. With that he headed home for some much needed rest.

Still Tuesday morning:

Liz got to the office and started to open the door when she realized that it was already open. She walked in and there sat Jeremy, the new lawyer, in the receptionist’s chair. She asked him what he was doing there so early and he said that he needed to talk to her.

“To me?”

“Yes” he said.

“About what?” Liz wasn’t too sure what was going on but she had a gut feeling that it wasn’t going to be good.

“Well, I wanted to know if you would like to go out with me on Saturday; maybe have some dinner and catch a movie.”

And with that Liz about choked. Oh God, how do I do this diplomatically? She was frantic…she could hardly tolerate the man as a coworker how was she going to be diplomatic?

‘Oh my God! I don’t need this today; I don’t need this on any day! Oh God Liz’, she told herself, ‘just do what you do with any business communication …short and to the point’.

‘Here goes!’

She tried very hard to maintain a calm demeanor but she could feel her body tensing up and when she got this upset she had a tendency to stare daggers at people, but she tried…

”Well Jeremy, since we really don’t know each other and you are not aware of my private life I feel it’s only fair to inform you that I am getting married on Saturday and I don’t think my husband would like it if I left our honeymoon to have dinner with you.

Now, I am not making fun of your request, so please don’t take this the wrong way… but, (now her voice grew stronger) I am so happy to be marrying the man of my dreams that I cannot think of any other way to tell you this except… other than… (now she was just about shouting) a pure and simple NO.”

Liz had never really liked this man…he has always given her the creeps…made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. God, why couldn’t she have said it nicer…but you can’t just grab the words out of the air and put them back in your mouth…she was so frustrated with herself.

Jeremy just looked at her stunned. He couldn’t believe he didn’t know that she was seeing someone. She never mentioned anyone. She always seemed to be heading home alone. When did all of this take place? She is not wearing an engagement ring. Doesn’t the guy think enough of her to buy her a ring? I think I will check with Diane and see if she is lying to me. His mind was going in five different directions at the same time.

He looked at Liz with an unrecognizable expression on his face and said,

“Oh, I’m sorry Liz. I didn’t know you were seeing someone.” His voice was very smooth and almost creepy sounding.

Liz felt a sudden chill go up her spine…’just shake it off’ she told herself. She knew she should have handled this differently but the man just creeped her out.

“It’s alright Jeremy…let’s just forget it, ok?”

Liz went to her office and proceeded to get things in order for the rest of the day. Diane showed up at 7:30 and as always headed straight to Liz’s office to make sure she had things under control for the rest of the day and to just say good morning.

Liz told her about Jeremy being there when she got in at seven and what he wanted. Diane wasn’t really too shocked since she had noticed that Jeremy was always watching Liz when she didn’t know it but she was a little discomfited to think that he would open the office and wait for Liz to come in. She got the same eerie feeling that Liz had…’what’s wrong here’ she thought to herself?

She asked Liz what she told him so Liz repeated what she had told Jeremy practically verbatim.

She told her that she wasn’t very nice about it either and was very apologetic, she didn’t know what came over her.

Diane assured her that she was not out of line. Then Diane wanted to know if Liz wanted her to tell Jeremy whom she was getting married to. Liz told her she felt that it was none of his business and Diane agreed. Liz was flabbergasted, what was causing her to act like this. She’d turned men down before and it never affected her like this.

Diane then went to her office and Jeremy knocked on her door before she even had a chance to put her jacket and purse away.

Jeremy proceeded to ask Diane if she knew that Liz was getting married and she said she was very aware of it and why was he so concerned. He said he hadn’t realized that Liz was seeing anyone let alone engaged to anyone and Diane informed him that what Liz did outside of the office was her business and no one else’s. Jeremy had to agree with her on that one and then Diane noticed that he looked a little strange…she asked him if he had something else on his mind and he told her “no.”

She hoped he was telling her the truth.

*~*~*

Jeremy left Diane’s office and headed to his own, he was very deep in thought. His mind was working overtime on this new development with Liz. He felt that if she just gave herself time to get used to him that she would be more than happy to start seeing him.

“Why is she marrying someone else?” he asked himself…”After all he is really a great catch…he has a fine job, good career opportunities and is quite handsome. After all that is what his mother always told him, isn’t it?” He continued to wonder,

“What is wrong with her, can’t she see this?” He will have to do something quickly. Saturday is only four days away

*~*~*

Grandma Claudia arrived on Tuesday afternoon and called Liz at work. She asked her to stop by to see her before going home and Liz couldn’t wait to see her grandmother and also could hardly wait to see what she had brought her…she knew she didn’t forget it!

Before leaving the office Liz told Diane not to make any plans for tonight that Grandma Claudia arrived today and she would be stopping by her mom’s and dad’s before heading home…but she was meeting Max for dinner at the hospital first so she would be a little late.

“OK sweetheart, I’ll be there.” And then Diane finished up her last little job before heading home.

Liz left her office at 6:00 p.m. and headed straight for the hospital for her quick little dinner date with Max. You take what you can get when there isn’t a lot of time.

She started her truck up and didn’t notice the small green sport car idling in the parking space next to her. She put in her favorite CD and headed out onto the main highway with the sport car right behind her. The sun was inching it’s way to the west as Liz headed east down the interstate.

She finally arrived at the hospital and headed straight for the information desk in the main lobby. She had the receptionist check for Max’s duty station and the girl told her that Dr. Evans was waiting for her in the cafeteria already. Liz smiled at the young woman and headed on down to the cafeteria where she spotted Max standing with a group of young doctors over by the vending machines; he spotted her immediately and excused himself and hurried over to take her into a quick embrace before heading to the buffet line. He guided her up to the buffet display with his hand held protectively at her back. He was so proud of her and wanted the world to know that she belonged to him.

Little did they know that someone was watching them and was really taken aback with what he saw.

Jeremy recognized Max from the picture on Diane’s desk in her office. Why didn’t he know that Liz was seeing Max Evans? She didn’t have any pictures of him in her office. Well, she really didn’t have any pictures of anyone in her office so I guess this is no surprise. Maybe he should leave well enough alone, “No” he thought, he will call his mother, that’s what he’ll do. The longer Jeremy thought about it the more obsessed he became.

Father O’Brien spotted Max and Liz over in the corner having a quiet meal and talking to each other,

“They don’t seem to look like they would mind some company.” He thought to himself and he took his food tray over in their direction and both kids invited the old priest to join them for dinner. Father was really impressed with Liz and told Max this and Max thanked him, Liz just blushed and told the old priest “thank you.”

“Father, do you think it will be possible for us to have a rehearsal on Friday evening just to make sure we all do the right thing at the right time?” Liz asked with a smile on her face…it was almost impossible for her to wipe it off these days.

“Of course Liz. Will 7:00 pm be alright for you? I make rounds at six and will certainly be finished by seven.”

“Of course it will Father. There will only be the four of us, Max, Michael, Maria and me. We’re fairly intelligent I think…we should be able to wrap this up in about 15 minutes or less.” Liz said with a little giggle. Then she added…

“Father, can you come for a small dinner and reception at my parents home after the wedding on Saturday?”

“Liz, I would love to come. Do you think we should invite Sister Margaret as well?”

Then Max interrupted and said…

“Father, I was planning on asking Sister myself, tomorrow. Don’t you think it would be better if I asked her?”

The old priest looked at Max and smiled,

“Of course, you’re right Max. You do that.”

They continued on with their meal, sharing unimportant pleasantries and then it was time for Max and the old priest to make their rounds. Liz shook Father’s hand and gave Max a quick peck on the cheek before leaving the cafeteria.

Meanwhile all the young interns were standing around waiting for Max and wondering who the little fox was that was with him. Michael didn’t offer any of them any information what so ever. He promised his friend not to say a word and he would honor that promise. They’ll find out soon enough Michael thought to himself.

*~*~*

When Liz got home she was so excited to see her Grandma Claudia that she could hardly speak.

After hugs and greetings Grandma asked her where Max was and Liz told her that he had night shift today and tomorrow…so he will be by to see her tomorrow afternoon before going to work. Grandma was almost as excited to see Max as she was Liz, she has known him since he was a baby after all and she has known his mother as long as she’s known her daughter-in-law.

After Diane got to the Parkers Grandma Claudia took Liz upstairs to take a peek at what she brought her.

Liz just looked at her and smiled, she wanted to mess with her a little,

“Grandma, Maria and I went to the Bridal Shop today and…”

Grandma gasped and said to Liz,

“God Liz don’t tell me you bought a dress!”

Liz started giggling and told her,

“No Grandma, we bought Maria a beautiful dress since she’s the maid of honor. I know you brought your dress for me. I was just messing with you.” Liz giggled at her grandmothers horrified expression.

Grandma heaved a huge sigh of relief and Liz continued on up the stairs to Grandma’s room.

Grandma just looked at her and smiled…’she knows me too well’ she thought to herself.

Liz could hardly stand the wait. Grandma had taken the dress to the seamstress before leaving home and had the gown steamed to freshen it up and to make any repairs that might have been needed. It looked brand new. Liz could hardly wait to try it on.

It had cost Claudia a pretty penny for the oversized trunk she had put the gown in to transport it but it was worth it. Liz could have the trunk as well as the gown. It fit perfectly in it and was as dust proof as anything on the market. After all, it kept the dress clean and dust free for over 50 years…some things are just timeless.

Grandma helped Liz into the large hooped petticoat and then tied on the buskets.

Liz looked at grandma with those big brown eyes of hers and said, “Grandma, what in the name of God is…this…thing hanging over my waist upside down?” as she flipped the buskets with her fingers.

Grandma explained with a little smile, “They keep your waistline looking small by fanning out the dress over your hips. The weight of the skirt pulls everything down and the buskets will keep it up where it belongs.”

Liz just looked at her wide-eyed and said “Oh” as though she understood exactly what her grandmother told her when in truth she hadn’t a clue as to what this THING was.

Grandma then slipped the gown over Liz’s head and proceeded to button the back, one lonely button at a time, there must be thirty of them and then she started on the sleeves, tiny little self-covered buttons, twelve on each arm, from the wrist to the elbow. They are going to have to allow an extra half hour just to button this thing.

Then grandma stood back and looked at her granddaughter, ‘what a sight!’ If anyone didn’t know better they would have thought the dress had been tailor made for Liz. It was perfect.

Liz asked her if she brought the veil as well and Grandma told her that it didn’t hold up as well as the dress but the seamstress was making a new one for her and it would be overnighted to her tomorrow.

The seamstress had grandmas’ veil and is going to make it exactly like the old one. It will be fingertip length with a border of lace around the entire circumference. She did buy Liz a new headpiece but that was a surprise. Liz just smiled and hugged her all over again.

Through all of the tears coming from both ladies you would have thought that it was a funeral instead of a wedding.

Grandma reached up and pulled Liz’s hair up away from her face, gave it a twist, and held it up with a clip. She looked ravishing, Max is going to faint at the sight of her.

Liz had grandma head down stairs to make sure everyone was in the living room and then she proceeded to walk down the steps in her bare feet holding the dress up in the front, being very careful not to catch it on anything.

When she entered the living room they all looked at her in awe. Her father was the first to start crying and then both Diane and her mother started tearing up. (There wasn’t a dry eye in the room) They had no idea where this beautiful dress had come from and then Jeff recognized it…it was his mothers dress, but how did she get it to fit Liz so perfectly?


Jeff asked his mother…”How did you get it to fit so well?”

Liz looked at her dad and said “dad, she didn’t do anything to it…it just fits, that’s all.”

Now it was Nancy and Diane’s turn…”You mean its’ Claudia’s wedding gown?”

Claudia, Liz and Jeff all answered together, “Yes.” The mothers sat in awe, they couldn’t believe that the dress was that old. And then…Liz swore all of them to secrecy….

“Do not tell Max or Maria. This is to be a surprise to them.” They all agreed that they would keep her secret and she and Grandma headed back upstairs to take the dress off. Then Liz got her things together and headed on home.

Tomorrow will be another busy day for our young bride.

*~*~*

Liz looked in on the parents before leaving and she told them that a cleaning crew would be in on Friday to get the house ready for dinner on Saturday and the caterer will be coordinating his visit with the cleaning crew to make sure the furniture is arranged for a sit down dinner for thirty people.

“There are twenty-two people that are definitely going to be here and that gives you eight places for whomever you want to invite. It is not necessary to invite anyone other than Maria and Michael’s parents but if you want to there will be enough food for that many people, so be choosy about who you really want to come and share this with.

The list included:

Max, Liz, Michael, Maria, Diane, Diane’s parents, Philip’s parents, Jeff, Nancy, Claudia, Nancy’s parents, Michael’s parents, Maria’s parents, Father O’Brien and Sister Margaret and if we’re lucky, Isabelle. We should probably have a place set for the photographer too since he will be here and he should be allowed to eat.”

Max’s sister Isabelle works in London for a high power fashion designer and they are almost positive she won’t be able to make it on such short notice but they can always hope.

Both mothers were speechless. Liz informed them that they will be getting married at the hospital chapel on Saturday at 2:00 pm by Father O’Brien and all they have to do is show up.

“And, don’t forget, no one besides the people in this room is to know that I will be wearing a wedding gown. This is going to be my surprise to Max and we all know how good Maria is at keeping secrets!” Everyone laughed and bid her good night.

*~*~*

Meanwhile, as soon as Father O’Brien talked to Sister Margaret she had an organ moved into the chapel from the recreation hall and made arrangements for the school choir to sing the wedding mass for the young couple. She also had the kneeler from the Nun’s chapel moved down to Father’s office.

Then she called a local furniture store and asked the owner if he might be able to LEND her a bench covered in a pretty white fabric, preferably a satin type fabric. The owner of the store chuckled to himself and told her of course, and asked if she would like it delivered. She told him that would be great and she needed it in the hospital chapel by 12:00 noon on Saturday. He told her it would be there.

He had been dealing with the Nuns from St. Joseph’s for years and they were just too cute in the way they manipulated people.

She then called to get the color scheme of the wedding from Michael and Michael told her he would have to get back to her; he immediately knew what was happening.

Michael then called Maria,

“Hey Maria, do you know if Liz has a particular color scheme in mind for this little get together?”

Maria giggled at Michaels terminology and answered her sweetheart,

“Sure spaceboy…she using a lot of peach…very pale peach. What’s up?”

“Sister Margaret just called and asked me if I knew and I told her I’d get back to her. How’s your day going?”

“Great Michael. Will I see you when you get off your shift?”

“You know it blondie…behave.”

“Will do…take care and do good things.”

“Always, love you, later!”

“Love you spaceboy. Night.” And they hung up.

Michael then called Sister Margaret back and told her,

“Light peach is the color of the day.”

“Thank you Michael and I’ll see you on Saturday.”

Sister just smiled at Michaels’ description, short and to the point but an excellent doctor.

Sister then had the ladies auxiliary cover the kneeler in white satin and smock it together in peach and white silk roses with green spider fern for accent. She had the kneeler placed in Father’s office just in case the couple should come to the chapel for any reason before Saturday and smiled to herself. There’s no such thing as a small wedding regardless of how many people there are.

Sister knew both Michael and Max very well, they are two of her finest interns and she is hoping that both young doctors will continue to work out of her hospital when they finish their internship next month.

*~*~*

Michael wasn’t supposed to know where the wedding was to be taking place but the cat was out of the bag now. Should he or shouldn’t he let the rest of their friends know. He would check with Max’s mom first.

After talking to Michael and some careful consideration Diane told Michael that she didn’t think it was such a good idea since the kids wanted this to be a very small and intimate group. Michael agreed with her and kept his promise to Max.

Michael also went to see Father and told him that Max and Liz wanted this to be a very small and simple affair so Father went along with it. But, he allowed Sister Margaret to do her little bit to make it nice for the kids. After all, she is everyone’s boss around here so he should cut her some slack.

*~*~*