Author: Selena
Rating: TEEN/Mature
Coupling: M/L
Disclaimer: Roswell does not belong to me, it is the property of the higher ups. This fic initially uses whole scenes from the episode Viva Las Vegas, no infringement is intended. But it was necessary for story purposes.
Summary: Takes place during Viva Las Vegas. What brought Max back after his "memory flash" in the taxi? And what happened after Liz nearly told him the truth?
Author's Note: I think I may be insane, trying to post another fic. I have some sort of death wish. Or maybe the muse wants to take over the world. But I can't seem to control her. In fact, I'm trying quite desperately to focus on the projects I already have going, and of course, on the projects I wanted to get done. But... she's insistent. Please bear with me guys... I don't know how regularly I'll be able to post this. But I just can't get it out of my head.
Lines from Viva Las Vegas
Chapter 1:
Time here all but means nothing just shadows that move cross the wall
they keep me company but they don’t ask of me they don’t say nothing at all
I need just a little more silence, I need just a little more time
You send your thieves to me silently stalking me dragging me into your war
Would you give me no choice in this I know you cant resist trying to re-open a sore
So leave me be, I don’t want to argue I just get confused and I come all undone
If I agree well its just to appease you cause I don’t remember what were fighting for. ~ “Time,” Sarah McLachlan
Every second was like an eternity in this place.
Each breath he took, it was as if he had taken a million before it, all to end up here. What was it about this place that made him so uncomfortable? It was all strangely familiar, like a dream he was yet to wake up from, but that felt unbelievably real. A part of him hated it. It went against everything he believed in. It was a sleazy, flashy, overpriced town that was used to lure unsuspecting tourists with bright lights and false promises. But another part of him, the part he was trying desperately to fight, called out to him, moving him toward the town with a force that was beyond his control.
And with each step, he found himself wanting to be near her. Because although every part of his logical being was crying out that he leave, his heart was fighting that he stay. And he knew he had to see her, if only for a moment, before he left the torturous town behind. But even as his eyes fell on her dark hair, he stood frozen, watching her from the distance. Something about it felt so final, like if he walked away from her, from this place, he would miss the moment that was waiting to be formed. The moment that hung between them in the air.
“Not bad,” he managed, despite his thumping heart. She turned around, an expression of surprise briefly covering her features, before she turned back toward her game with a laugh. For a fleeting moment, he was caught in the past, images of brown and turquoise swirled like a painting before him, thousands of lost smiles and laughs tickling his brain.
“Oh, well, yea,” she laughed, turning back toward her game. “After playing 6 hours and a thousand quarters, you sort of get a rhythm going.”
“Yeah, I heard you were down here,” he started, unsure of where to go from there. What had he come to say? He could barely remember. He was just overwhelmed with feelings that crept up out of the secret place where he’d hidden them away. “I just wanted to let you know I’m leaving.”
“Oh,” she said quickly, spinning to face him, her game suddenly forgotten. “Is everything ok?”
“Yea,” he said, before he could really think. “Yea, it’s just Vegas. Kinda makes my skin crawl.”
“Yea,” she said with a quick laugh, before her eyes diverted to something behind him. “I mean who would ever want to get married in an Elvis Chapel, right?”
He looked over his shoulder, as his eyes focused on the bright poster behind him. Then, time dipped again, as he turned to look at Liz, every movement of her body was like molasses. He watched with interest, as her eyes eagerly examined the ground.
Liz was nervous. Every inch of her body oozed with nervous energy and he felt it seeping into his own skin, turning his stomach. What was she so nervous about?
He refocused on the poster and turned, laughing internally, imagining the King standing in his bright white suit and dark glasses.
The voice came and went so quickly, he wasn’t sure he’d heard it.
Congratulations, kids.
It was heavily accented, and he shook his head lightly, shaking the strange thought from his mind.
“Not me,” he said in response, still shaking his head. “Not in this lifetime.”
“Oh yea,” she said quickly, and he continued staring at her, baffled by her behavior. Everything about her expression was an enigma. He wondered what she was hiding beneath her troubled eyes. Did she feel it too? The way time seemed to slow down between them? He looked at her carefully, trying to decipher the mystery one last time. Trying to make the time between them last as long as he possibly could.
He waited out the silence for a moment longer, but when she said nothing else, he shrugged it off. He had to go. He would never leave if he let himself fall into her this way.
“Well, I’ve got a plane to catch, so….”
“Yea, right,” she said, her eyes darting in every direction before falling back on his. He noticed her longing. She didn’t hide it. Not like she hid everything else. And for a brief moment, he wondered if something within her had changed. If something between them had changed.
The thumping of his heart was hard against his chest. It hurt. He just couldn’t do it tonight. Despite how much he wanted to, he was too weak from the entire day to face her with the mountain of questions that threatened. Questions that he desperately needed answers to.
“See you in Roswell, Liz,” he mumbled quickly, and walked away, not waiting for a response. He needed air.
He winced against the bright lights outside of the arcade, and headed down the crowded halls toward the elevators. He stopped in front of the cluster, looking at his reflection in the metal doors. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair as he let out a deep breath. Something was happening. He could feel it, deep within his soul. What was it?
He looked up at the sound of a beep and noticed the blinking arrow above the elevator door. Thankful, he stepped in, ready for the ride down the ten flights.
He couldn’t stop thinking about Liz’s eyes, the way she’d looked, so desperate to say something and yet unable to utter a word. He sighed loudly as the elevator doors opened with another beep. He walked through the lobby and past the front glass doors. When he stepped outside, he was pleasantly surprised by the swift breeze of cool air.
He sat and waited, although for a moment, he wasn’t sure for what. He had the strangest feeling that he was waiting for someone, or that someone was waiting for him. He rubbed his forehead slightly, trying to regain the lost seconds. Time was slipping back and forth, and he was beginning to wonder whether he was coming or going. What was it about this place? Was it the bright array of lights? Was that what it was like in a city that didn’t sleep?
His thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of a yellow taxi right before the building. He suddenly remembered his journey. He was headed toward the airport. Away from Las Vegas and the strange power it held over him.
Max couldn’t help but watch with interest as the door swung open and a man in a black tuxedo was followed by a woman in a bright white wedding dress. They walked past him as he walked toward the cab, but despite his attempts, he was unable to resist looking away.
Something about the sight of the two lovers was making his heart heavy with loss, and he watched as the groom swept his bride up into his arms.
Time slowed as long blonde hair darkened. Max felt a cold shiver shoot through his skin. In a moment, Liz was lying in his arms. He was holding her close to him, placing an adoring kiss on her lips.
He nearly gasped. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, swearing that he felt the brush of her lips against his.
When he opened his eyes he was mesmerized by her. The way she glowed; a bright smile covering her lips as she looked at him. There was no doubting the love she held in her gaze. He swallowed hard. Lights disappeared, and all he heard was a whisper in the breeze.
“I love you,” it said, reminiscent of Liz’s voice against his ear.
“Hey, you getting in?”
The voice broke into his thoughts, and Max turned to face a questioning gaze.
“Yea, you. You getting in?”
“Yea,” Max said suddenly, shaking his head as he stepped into the back seat.
His lips still tingled, as if missing the pressure of her touch. He leaned back against the seat with a thud and the driver looked back through his rearview mirror.
“You ok?” the stranger asked, raising a questioning eyebrow.
Max looked up, catching a glimpse of blue eyes in the mirror.
“Yea,” he whispered, with little strength.
“What’s the matter? Lost a lot of money tonight?”
“No, not really,” he finished, praying he be left in silence.
“No? Then, why so glum?”
Max looked out the window for a few moments, and then sat up, looking up toward his driver.
“It’s probably stupid,” he said, shaking his head as he heard easy laughter floating back from the front. “What’s so funny?”
“You’re sober right? It’s probably not stupid. You’d be surprised what I’ve been told.”
Max smiled, nodding in understanding. He reached down; startled by the nagging emptiness that consumed him with every mile they drove away.
“Ok,” he finally agreed, leaning forward, and whispering as if others could hear. “Have you ever felt like you were supposed to be somewhere? Like you were meant to do something incredibly important, but you don’t know what… or even why?”
“Yea, definitely,” the man said, his voice radiating with serious thought. “It’s fate talking to you, trying to steer you down the right course.”
Max breathed out loudly and then leaned back against the cool leather seat.
“I don’t believe in fate.”
“It doesn’t matter whether or not you believe in it. It’s gonna do what it’s gotta do.”
They sat in silence as Max looked out the window, passing the bright lights of the Vegas strip.
“So, the airport, right?” The man looked back once more, waiting for a response.
“Actually… change of plans.”
Hey su-lyn! Thanks for joining us! Mary, you and my muse, I swear you two are plotting something together. *stares at Mary* youre evil! LOL But I love ya. 
Hey Cherie! What a wonderful complement. Seriously, that means a lot coming from you. *smooches*
What an honor to be on a favorite author list! Can I do a happy dance? *does it* Ok, done.