Twenty-four hours later,
Four Points Hotel
Four Points Hotel
The party had started. That meant the music was loud and plentiful. Alcohol was being served, and everyone was having a grand old time. Even the younger generation was still at the party, doing their own thing. Which could be troubling if Max did not trust his children. And Callie was still feeling out the atmosphere. Because everything that day was a whirlwind. She was still living down the rush of the day. Because once they woke up, it was all go, go because the ceremony was going to be early. So, Liz, Maria and Callie had to get the hair salon, and they had run into Ella who would be serving as a flower girl along with her brother as a ring bearer. Callie was serving as the other flower girl. But it was certainly an eye-opening experience for Callie’s mother when the other girl introduced herself as Ella Evans and Liz had the startling realization that Max had children along with being married. You were gone ten years Liz she thought to herself. It was going to happen.
Especially when I did not even leave town before he had his first, she muttered. She knew from Maria that the adoption took hold, and Max had no role in his son’s life. As far as they knew the child was doing well, away from Roswell. That is how Max wanted it they all knew. He wanted a wall so that the child would be safe they thought.
But the fact he did move on, and had more children was an eye opener to her and it did not immediately strike well with her, and in fact she wanted to spiral. Maria moved on in and yanked her to the chair for their appointment. So, maybe if she had more time to get a handle on it, she might have but given she arrived so close to the ceremony. And the bride was running interference. She did not have the time to spiral. Because she had to go down that pathway that got her ready for the wedding. A wedding that she wanted to be memorable for her friend.
And the bride was determined that nothing was going to get in the way.
But Liz also wanted it to be something Maria and even Michael deserved. After waiting so many years for it.
While the coming bride was in her glory, but she could see Liz eyes following that of Ella as she was yacking to anyone who would listen about her role in the ceremony. Her first chance to be in a wedding because she had been too young when her father had gotten remarried, and her aunt was still not married.
After having her first go around flame out because of events of yesteryear that were over and done with. But it had not helped her flaying marriage and ultimately, she and Jesse would divorce, and it was taking her time for her to get out there even though she currently had friends with benefits relationship with of all people, Kyle Valenti.
With neither doing anything about making it more permanent. Maria thought Kyle was too afraid to change status quo that had been going on for a long time now. Everyone sensed there was more under the surface between the two but with Isabel already failing at marriage one, despite her being too young and the time and there were a lot of reasons why it had failed still she was not anxious to give it ago a second time.
Or so that is what she was telling everyone.
And Kyle did not push it. He liked their arrangement. And neither saw any reason for ending it. But on weekends like this one, when love was in the offering. You had to wonder if the situation might change for many people in the room.
Even those who already had a ring on their ringer. Despite not wearing it, claiming he could not wear it on duty.
When questioned about it. He said that he went home to his wife at the end of the day.
No one did question his fidelity to his marriage. But those who were close to the situation knew it was a situation that was going to come to a head one of these days. And now with Liz Parker back in town, the inner circle knew it was coming to a head even sooner than they might have thought was possible.
But that would be for another time.
In the interim, was a wedding to remember. “Do you Michael take Maria to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, to death do you part?” had come the pastor.
“I do,” Michael had said.
“Do you Maria take Michael to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, to death do you part?” had come the pastor.
“You bet I do,” Maria said to laughter in the church as the wedding party that had Max as best man, and Liz as maid of honor smiling, and most in the church could not help but notice how the best man and maid honor could not keep looking at each other during the ceremony.
And once the bride and groom kissed each other and been declared Michael and Maria Guerin and there was laughter and claps galore in the church. The wedding was declared over, and it was time to party.
And Yvonne had swept in along with Noah and Ella to escort Max out of the church, and they made their exits as soon as the bride and groom took their walk. Even though it was tradition for the wedding party to pair off and walk out together.
Isabel stood amused at her sister-in-law’s antics, and her brother having no choice by following his wife, because he is married after all she thought as she looked over at her date for the festivities. “There is going to be trouble,” she said to Kyle.
“You bet there is,” Kyle said softly. As they looked as Liz watched as Yvonne dragged Max off, and they both sighed. “Lots of trouble,” they both thought as they saw Liz talk briefly to Callie. And walk out of the church together and stop and talk briefly once more with Jeff and Nancy Parker who were catering the reception but had been invited to the ceremony because of their closeness to the bride.
She had been a second daughter to them.
Isabel spotted the smiles and hugging between Liz and her parents. And the signs of nervousness between the parents, and their grandchild. “Weird” she thought. “Wonder what the story is there…” she muttered as Kyle was seeing the same interaction. “Do you know?” she asked her partner.
“Nope,” Kyle said. “I did not even know she had a kid.”
Certainly, only a few people knew the story. And so, there were going to be a lot of surprises with Liz’s return.
And those surprises were only beginning….
Now,
The party was indeed starting. Music was all over the place. Family and friends were celebrating the newlyweds. As both of the newlyweds were in fine form. And the bride and groom were now on the stage, preparing to make a speech. Or it was the bride because Michael hated to make speeches, even on this day. So, Maria was the one who wanted to do it, and she was preparing to make it. “Thank you for all coming today to celebrate our day,” Maria started with lots of cheers coming from their family and friends. Or her family. “We have finally made it to this day, and I am thrilled that you were able to come and celebrate our big commitment. Michael or who I affectionally call Space Boy and I have come a long way. And through many challenges. Some of them big and some of them small. But little by little, we have made it to this day, and I am amazed every day that I have found someone as unique as Michael is too me. And I am sure, he would say the same about me,” she said with a laugh at Michael, “Right Space Boy,” she said with amused look on her face.
And she got a nod. “I thought so,” Maria continued to laughter in the crowd. “We are going to have an amazing life together if the last decade or more have been any indication. And there are people here who I know I would not have met Michael without even though he had been out there existing, but we never really saw each other until the occasion came, and boy did it come,” she said softly as she glanced pointedly at both Max and Liz who were not standing together.
Liz was standing with her family. And Max was with his. Namely his wife. With the kids off trying to sneak some sweets.
And neither were trying to look at each other. Although not with out a lot of success, much to the annoyance and fury of Yvonne who tried to ignore it.
Maria barrelled on with her speech.
“So, I would love it if my maid of honor and Michael’s best man, Liz Parker and Max Evans would dance together for a dance. Because they were instrumental in our coming together. Without those two, we would not have had a chance” she said with a smile, as the room grew silent. “Thank you, Max and Liz.”
Both Max and Liz wanted to strangle the bride. While the groom could only shake his head at his new wife’s mischievous maneuvers. Maria, come on, you are being blatant here…
Yes, she was, and the bride was not going to be subtle even as she was looking for trouble as she toasted the crowd. “Come on, let’s party” she would finish off. “So, let’s get the dancing started,” she said. “Come on Space boy,” she said to her new husband. They might have been together for more than a decade, but they were finally Mr. and Mrs. Guerin, as she and Michael walked onto the dance floor. “Come on Max and Liz” she called out.
And it left Max and Liz, located on different edges of the dance floor with an impossible choice to make. “Don’t you dare,” came Yvonne Evans. Unloved by her husband’s family, and most of his friends. And some of them have not been subtle in their opinions. Even as her in-laws looked at each other, and then at their son. Invited to the family because they had been a second family to the groom. The only parents Michael could claim to have they all knew. Because his foster father was no father.
And was long gone.
“She has no shame,” Isabel muttered. She was a shipper only for the purposes of wanting her brother to be happy, although she was not completely happy with the woman that her brother truly loved. Therefore, she was a reluctant member of the fan club. Because she definitely was not a fan of her sister-in-law.
And the feeling was mutual. But on this occasion, Isabel was thinking that the bride was being a little forward and a lot blatant in her not-so-subtle maneuvering.
“What do you think they will do?” Kyle asked from his vantage point, next to Isabel.
Neither of them knew.
And neither did Liz truthfully. She wondered what Maria’s play was. Why could she not leave it alone she wondered. She looked around the room, and saw the people in their vicinity looking at both herself and Max. She also spotted Max’s wife, wife, that is a trip she thought as she did not know how to handle the fact that her former boyfriend was taken.
He's married Liz she though to herself. It does not matter what Maria thinks she muttered to herself. He has someone to go home too.
Children too she muttered.
She might have a child at home. But that was a different situation than having someone your own age to go home too, assuming she’s our age she muttered. She knew enough about the opposite sex to know you cannot discount anything. Not when you are now a decade removed from high school.
And growing older by the day.
Sheryl Crow’s I Shall Believe started to play and it stunned Liz. Because unlike anyone in the room. She had a personal connection to the song, that came back to that time back in high school. Max did not even know it. At least this incarnation of Max she thought.
A future version of Max she knew.
As the first lyrics played…
Come to me now
Max felt drawn to ignore the stares and the demands of his wife. And he knew the chances of the eyes on him, for resisting was too great. And so, he walked away, to the frustration of his wife. Who wanted to stomp away. But her need to know how her husband was acting overrode any desire to leave, and so she stayed. While Max walked over to Liz.
“Do you want to dance?” was all Max said.
“You don’t have to do this” Liz said softly. “You know Maria was daring us and especially daring you,” she sighed of the challenge laid down by her best friend. “And it would be better in the long run to just ignore her desire to cause trouble,” because I know Maria is wanting to have a good time, she sighed of her friend’s desire to cause drama. Even if she did not want it to happen. As Jeff and Nancy silently walked away, as they headed to find Callie.
No matter how complicated that situation was… But both Jeff and Nancy knew it was better to walk away and leave their daughter to deal with this situation. She is an adult Jeff thought as he and his wife walked away. She is no longer a teenager.
Even if part of her felt like one, when she had the love of her life staring at her with his eyes, and the desire in them, that he was trying to keep restrained, but it was not working, everyone could see it in his eyes.
Even his wife.
But it was leaving Max and Liz in suspended motion as they have every other eyes on them, and the deadly glare of Max’s wife. “Max, you are married.”
“I know what I am,” Max said with a mutter. “Let’s dance,” he said softly, as Maria was laughing as she walked onto the dance floor with her new husband, to the music tones of Sheryl Crow’s ‘I Shall Believe’ as it continued to play…
And lay your hands over me
Even if it's a lie
Say it will be alright
And I shall believe
“Max,” Liz said softly. “You don’t have to do this,” sighed. “You are just adding to the fire.”
I know what fire I am causing by doing this Max muttered to himself, but he was heading into that fire regardless. Because he knew the truth of it. “I want to dance with you. We were friends once, weren’t we?” Max asked, unsure of what they were currently. Are we friends? he would mutter himself. We were once but he knew, so much happened he would think as he did not know how he would be able to classify them now, as they walked on the dance floor. Determined to show everyone that they could do this, and it does not have to mean anything.
But could it be innocent?
History did not seem that promising. Because we can never stay innocent, or carefree they both knew in their own way. As Liz felt herself going into Max’s arms and being held and even though she knew there was a heated glare of her former’s boyfriend’s current wife staring at her. She could not walk away. Even though she knew she should walk away. What good is it, to add to this fire she would tell herself.
As the song continued.
I'm broken in two
And I know you're on to me
That I only come home
When I'm so all alone
But I do believe
Shit Max thought, I should not have done this as he knew he felt the glare of his wife beaming into the back of his head, you don’t have to be seeing her eyes to know what Yvonne thinks he muttered. Just as Liz did. But he knew that he should be bigger than to accept the challenge from the new wife of his best friend when he knew full well Maria was stirring trouble, and yet I am going a long with it he thought. Why am I?
Because he knew how it was going to be when he went home.
To my wife.
Yes, you are married Max thought. But to have Liz in his arms felt magical, and he could not stop himself or walk away from this moment in time. As the music continued, and they swayed to the music. It felt like a decade melted away.
And like he was getting all his dreams.
Instead of having them walk away when she walked away and did not come back.
Or waited ten years, and when it was too late.
And yet here they were. In each other’s arms like it was ten years ago. Like it was 1999. Not current year, 2012. As they tried to resist the bursting of the bubble that was surrounding them. Like they did not have a care in the world.
Even though they were not who they were back in high school.
Far from it, for good and for bad.
“Max,” Liz whispered. Not wanting to make a scene out there on the dance floor. With set of eyes on them. She could feel the contempt and resentment coming off Max’s wife, and she could not blame her, if I were married, I would not like my husband dancing with another woman. Especially not a former girlfriend.
And not any former girlfriend. But someone he planned to marry but Liz did not know if Yvonne knew this or not, but she knew that if you lived in this town. The legacy of Max and Liz, and the origins stories of that time would have come out and Yvonne must have heard them.
She had.
Which made the anger coming off in waves even more intense. But she knew she could not make a sense. Not at this place. For she would really tank in the opinion of those Max held dear. Even though they did not particularly care for her to begin with, but she had been a decent stepmother to Ella and Noah Evans and a good wife for Max to go home too at night.
Or whenever he was not working, which was often. And actually, did go home.
So, Max knew the landscape as he was dancing with Liz. And did not dare look at his wife, “Don’t,” he said simply. “Tonight, is tonight and I’ll deal with tomorrow later.”
Liz nodded, as they continued to dance.
And try to forget that they were going down this road, again, and who knows where it would lead them.
But it did not make them walk away.
At least not yet.
*
At the same time,
Maria was creating mischief. It was well known around the room. But no one was in the mood to get in the way as she currently was exhibiting the glow of being a bride and the fallout could wait for tomorrow. And there is going to be fallout she knew. How could there not be. She knew this and so did her new husband, “What is your goal?” Michael was asking as he and Maria were having their first dance. Dancing was not one of his natural talents and only did it because he knew Maria liked it. Going well back to their beginnings. And certainly, their prom night. When he had surprised her with what he had gleam through dance lessons. And it was not something he often repeated, so he was a little rusty, but both were in the glow of the day. At the same time as Max and Liz were still on the dance floor. As both could see how awkward it was for the former couple. But it felt right. To both of them. And certainly, Michael knew his new wife was up to her old tricks. But he did not really care to stop her, even though he knew that the fallout could be far reaching.
In ways that neither could anticipate.
But that was for tomorrow.
Right?
Right.
So today was today. But that did not mean Michael was not curious. “You have to know that you are playing with fire?” he asked Maria. It was a feeling that everyone knew, and Maria certainly knew she was setting the stage for something to happen. She did not know what could happen, but one never could discount Yvonne Evans, because she is capable of just about anything she knew…
Like someone we all knew, Maria thought Max might have a type she muttered to himself, if he was looking for trouble she knew. And without Liz in his life. It was a recipe for disaster at the same time she did not want to have to remember that other name because of the lasting consequences. And the memories that it conquered in her. And ones she wanted to leave in dust bin because he should have been here today, she sighed at the memory of a loss that was still painful to even think of her, and she did not want too, when it was her wedding day. So, while she mostly bit her tongue. She waved her hands when it called it, to create mischief, like she was on this day, “I know, but I cannot help it. It’s our night,” she sighed with a smile of the feeling. “It is sort of contagious,” she sighed.
“What do you think it will accomplish?” Michael asked. And it was not like he did not want his friend to be happy. He did. He hated how Max was in a marriage that was all wrong, when I found my one and was able to make it work, he muttered. But that was the crucks of it, I have my one.
Max does not. And it's obvious. And he knew firsthand how Max had gotten involved because he did not want to lean on his parents after Edie's death, and therefore, he found himself getting involved with Yvonne to give the twins a two-parent household. When he was widowed early, and with two toddlers. And stuck it out, even if after awhile the glow wore off.
Big time. If there was ever a glow, Maria could not swear, but her friend wanted to show that it could work.
But his friend was paying for it.
“Hell, if I know,” Maria sighed. Because she did not know exactly what was going to happen. All she knew was she wanted her friends Max and Liz to be happy. Truthfully, she did not know what she was setting off. But she was setting the circumstances, and seeing what would be lit.
Liz did not have to come back to town Maria sighed with a smug smile as she looked at Yvonne and the fury coming off her in waves. It was making her day. Even though she was sort of set back at the sight of the twins nearby, and therefore she knew by setting these circumstances, who knows what the fallout will be she sighed.
But there were real lives at play here.
"We are not teenagers anymore Maria," Michael whispered. "You need to be careful with what you start. Because you might not be able to stop the ball from rolling down the mountain once it starts."
I know Maria sighed. And certainly, she did. I am not stupid.
And before she could allow any negative thoughts to get in the midst of her glow, there was a "Can I dance with the bride?" came a voice. And they both looked at the person that had come into their bubble. "Deluca," Michael said through gritted teeth.
"Michael," Sean smiled. I guess I am the only Deluca in this conversation now, aren't I? he thought with Maria now a married woman. "You look beautiful Maria. Do you want to dance?"
The request was legitimate, but that did not mean it was not also suspicious. Given their history. Which the bride immediately questioned. "What is your agenda?" Maria asked, suspiciously because she did not know what her cousin was up too. You don't stay gone more than a decade and suddenly come back and not have trouble come into play.
Michael felt the same.
"I want to dance with my cousin," Sean smiled. "Seriously, guys you are way too suspicious," he cracked at the frowns coming from the bride and groom. "Because, man, all this time with Guerin has turned you into a jaded person Maria..." he said with a laugh at the frown of his cousin, and her new husband. As if he did not know his cousin always had a suspicious bone in her body, about me he knew.
"I was always jaded,” Maria smiled as if she was agreeing with her cousin’s assessment because she never could blame Michael for that. I am me, so much time in this life of me has made cautious, but there was always a bit of wariness to me. Which is why Michael, and I are the perfect match," she said. "I just show it differently."
"Whatever," Sean muttered. "So, can we dance?"
"What the hell," Michael muttered. Even though he did not know what Sean Deluca was up too, he knew his bride would be able to handle him. She always managed to in the past. "You dance with him, if you want too. I will go and get a drink."
"And maybe you can get your best friend off the dance floor, because he is with someone who is not his wife. And his wife looks like she is going to explode if it lasts much longer," Sean suggested with a laugh. "Evans knows how to pick them, huh, doesn't he?" he wondered. Because in the limited time he was in town. He now knew whom Max's wife was. Although it had taken his aunt to tell him. And the little he could gleam from looking at Yvonne Evans he had to whistle at his cousin's blatant maneuvers get the former love birds on the dance floor together.
Even though it so far has not worked. As Liz looked like she did not want to be anywhere else. Same with Max.
Sean did not know what to feel about that...
Michael did not respond. He simply walked away, shaking his head. As he did not head to where Max and Liz were still dancing together, even though it was now several songs later.
Which left Maria and her cousin together. "Was that even necessary?" Maria asked of her cousin. As they started the charade of dancing together. She did not want anything taking off the glow of this day, and certainly not her mischief making cousin. Even if I am giving him a run for his money.
Sean only laughed. "You said yourself that you wanted your day to be happy. So, I thought I would just say that, so Michael could prevent the crime scene that is brewing..." Sean said with a further laugh. "Evans, is definitely asking for it, isn't he?"
"It does not matter what he is asking for," Maria muttered.
"Yes, it does if it makes Liz collateral damage," Sean reasoned of his one-time crush. She might not want me, but she is someone special and does not deserve to be brought into nasty business. "Yvonne Evans does not strike me as someone who likes the fact that her husband is making a fool out of her," he sighed as he could read the room, and knew what the general feeling was of Max's wife. But she did not strike him as someone who was going to like being shown, that she was second choice.
Now that Max's first choice was back in town.
"Whatever," Maria muttered.
"No whatever's Maria," Sean said as they stopped the charade that had them dancing, and he stood with a warning for his cousin. "Seriously, you are setting the stage for a fire. And Yvonne Evans does not strike me as someone who will just burn the logs you have placed. She will burn everything in her wake."
"You hardly know the situation" Maria waved the concern away. It is my wedding day. I don't want to think of the risks.
"Maria, remember where I came from?" Sean asked. My past is my past. And my juvenile hall record speaks for it. I might be over eighteen, but still it lingers. "I knew people like Yvonne. And you guys have to be careful. Real careful," he muttered. "Something tells me Evans does not know what she is capable of..."
"And you do?" Maria asked.
"Yes," Sean muttered. "I do, and my advice is that you need to tread very carefully because otherwise, all hell will let loose..."
Maria only sighed. Because part of her knew it was the truth.
*
And near all this. Yes, Yvonne was definitely wanting to explode. More than that. She wanted to stomp her feet and stalk over and yank her husband away from the woman he was dancing with.
The skank she muttered. But the reason why she did not do this and make the scene she so relish wanted too, was because the scene would be making her in-laws and the friends around the family happy. If she did it. Max is making me look like a fool she thought. She wanted to think Elizabeth Parker as a slut who was making a play for her husband because she knew the brunette.
I did my research she thought. You did not think I befriended the lonely widow without knowing what I was getting into? she thought. So, she knew of the past that Max had with the local girl Elizabeth Parker. Liz to her friends. She knew the town thought highly of Max's former girlfriend, but the favourite daughter of this town had left town after high school and had not come back. She had gone on to becoming a premiere scientist and doctor.
But to get there, she would start by breaking Max Evan's heart, and he had gone on to marry and have two children before his wife died, leaving him broken-hearted, and with two toddlers. And yet she knew enough to know Edie Evans had not been Max's true love. But she was a saint in many quarters. And as a result, she knew the town had loved her. And wanted Max to be happy.
So, she made her entrance. And soon she was Mrs. Max Evans and mother to the two motherless children. She thought she had it made. Obviously, she did. But she did not account for the fact her husband was a Sheriff's deputy. Who barely was home. And when he was home. He spent time with his kids.
Without me she groaned and wanted to kick something. Why am I here anyways she thought. No one wants me here she muttered. She knew the bride and groom only put up with her because she was Max's wife.
And stepmother to their godchildren, Ella, and Noah Evans.
So, she had to put up appearances of course, which is why she was really here. Otherwise, she would have stayed home. She wanted to stay home. Why would I want to be somewhere, anywhere that does not want me to be here. But if she had been planning on that, well that ended when she learned that the prodigal daughter was now back home.
Max's former girlfriend.
And was the slut dancing with my husband and letting him make a fool out of me is that woman she thought. There was no way I was going to be staying home. Even if I have to put up with this...
But maybe I should have though. It has to be better than watching this display.
So, as her brain was thinking of ways to play this scene. She got stopped in her tracks, "Don't try it Yvonne," came the warning. Just when she was planning to put what her brain was dreaming for this display. Come on, it is screaming for me to do something?
But nope, had someone determine to stop her. "Why should I not?" Yvonne asked as she turned and spotted the best friend of her husband, coming to talk her down. To prevent carnage from unfolding. "What do you think I am going to do?"
"I think you want to make trouble," Michael Guerin muttered. As he stood watching the fury on the face of her best friend's wife. Michael was not stupid not to think what Sean Deluca had just been warning his new wife about. Because Michael felt it too. Trouble is in the offering. "I won't have it, not tonight, and not ever... Do you understand me?" he warned. He knew what Yvonne was thinking.
That did not mean that he was going to walk over and stop the display that Max and Liz were making. They are grown ups. I am not going to get in the way. But any observer could see the display was wanting to make Max's wife explode. And part of him sympathized with the woman of course. She is not my best friend nor even close to it, but she does not deserve it.
"He's my husband," Yvonne muttered. "He married me."
"I know he did," Michael muttered. But he wanted to marry the woman he’s dancing with he sighed silently, because it would only inflame the situation to say that to Yvonne, and it was really not something she deserved to hear. Even if it were the truth.
"I love him," Yvonne muttered.
"No, you don't" Michael reasoned. "I know why you married him, Yvonne,” Neither of you were looking it as a love match. Michael knew. Max is just as guilty because Michael knew what his friend was looking for when he found his wife. But Yvonne’s motivation had the most problems to it. “You were looking for a payday," he asked of the fact that it was well known that Edie Evans had been loaded. She had come from a wealthy family. And she had a trust fund that came to her from a deceased grandfather and increased with the early death of her mother. And when she passed away. The money in it, came to Max.
As her spouse.
And sizable portion being left for the twins when they came of age. So, Yvonne had an invested interest in being a doting stepmother to those kids.
Because Michael and Isabel had done their research when their brother had gotten involved with Yvonne. Michael did it his way. And Isabel used her method of detecting the truth about newcomers. But still, Max had been on the rebound in the wake of losing his wife and losing Liz before that. So, they knew the truth about Yvonne's motivation. And it was true that she was good for the kids, which is why he never spoke up. And did not know if Max knew that money was the motivation for Yvonne's interest in him.
And now it was coming to a head. Because their brother was in a miserable marriage. But chose to stick it out to his point because of the kids.
And Michael did not want it exploding at his wedding.
Not after he waited ten years for it.
Not that he had been looking to get married when they were kids. But it had snuck up on him, and it had taken them ten years to get to this point. And he did not want anything ruining their special day.
Afterall, tomorrow was a new day.
"You have me all wrong," Yvonne muttered. "There is a prenuptial agreement, remember..." not that I really want to remember that she thought. One more reason, it is better to stick it out she thought than deal with a divorce.
Thankfully Michael muttered to himself. "Only because Max has a lawyer for a father, who insists on it." he sighed, thank you Phillip for telling your son to protect his interests, and that of the children.
"I have had enough of this," Yvonne muttered. 'I knew you people did not like me," she spat. "And you just proved it too me, and if you think I am going to allow my husband to dance with someone else and make me look like a fool. You have another thing coming. You and your friend, both."
"My friend is your husband," Michael muttered.
"That is my whole point," Yvonne muttered. "If he thinks he can play with his past on the side. Then he married the wrong woman."
I think we have established that he has married the wrong woman Michael mutter. Not that he was Liz Parker's greatest fan. But she is much better than who he actually married. "You said it, I did not," Michael sighed. I knew this blonde was trouble he sighed. Just like the original one, all those years ago he allowed. Max, you don't know what you have started he sighed and tried to tamp down the damage. "It's only a dance. He is going to be going home to you and the children, after the music stops. So, you don't have to worry about them."
"Don't I?" Yvonne asked. "Look at them out there."
Yeah, the scene is not exactly subtle, and Michael knew it did not look the greatest unless you were a shipper and was loving this display. But at the end of the day. It all had greater implications. Max probably needs to cut it out, but he also knew he could not be the one to tell his best friend, because he knew his friend was in a bubble, and the bubble was bound to burst.
Would it?
*
Maybe. Because they were not stupid. Both Max and Liz knew they were in a bubble that was bound to burst because it was not like they were not used to it before. And had been dealing with the phenomenon since the first met. Back in high school. Because any moment of goodness, would get a pinprick in it, and deflate before it could lead to anything good for them as a couple. And despite the fact that they had managed to make some happiness out of it. But those moments were few and far between and eventually they would have very little to show for their love. And in the end, all Max had was a broken heart because he had been waiting for Liz to come back to him, and she had not.
She chose to start over, away from Roswell.
And therefore, he had moved on with his life. To his detriment.
He might love his children. And I do love them as they are the only good things I have done in the last decade. But he did not love his life. And therefore, the latest moment that he and Liz were able to share seemed to be going on forever. It seems like it they both knew and neither had walked away from it when the music had stopped.
Not this time.
They would continue on. But it was going to end, although Max was trying to ignore the stares and truly, they had been successful on that front because it felt that they were in their own bubble. With no one coming in and interrupting them. As they went from dance to dance. Neither separating from the other.
When they should be the adults that they were and move on from each other.
Yet they could not. And whenever he did see his wife. As she had been only moments before been talking to Michael. He saw the fury on her face. It is not good he knew. Or should it be he knew.
Yet he did stop dancing and go to his wife, as they could see that Yvonne had now left Michael and could be only moments away from a scene.
"Max, maybe you should go" Liz said. As she felt the bubble bursting. "I need to figure out where Callie is," she thought as she knew she had been shirking her duty to her daughter and had left the child in care of her father and mother. And that is a whole mess of a situation she thought, and Callie does not deserve it.
But then, she knew the child could be about almost anywhere. This is a party that is packed, and it is easy for children to get lost. Or to play hide and seek. "Maybe, I should stop this" she murmured. "I have places to be..."
"Please don't," Max said softly. Because he knew that Maria was not the only one playing with fire. He was participating when he knew he was the one who should be staying away. This is all too much he was thinking, and yet he was sticking on the dance floor.
"I think its time," Liz said as she tried to muster the will to stop the dancing. But like Max, she was not willing to walk away, not just yet. "It is not about us. This night is about Michael and Maria..." she sighed, "and you have a wife you need to get back too. She cannot be too happy about this..." she asked because she knew for a fact that Max's wife could not be happy, because if the circumstances were different, and she was the one who was married than she would know her husband would not be too happy if she was being monopolized by a former flame.
Not any former flame she knew. Max is married.
Which is something he knew. I can guarantee that she is not happy Max was telling himself as he was also telling himself that Liz was correct. He needed to be the bigger person in this situation and walk away. Come on Max.
But he was never able to leave Liz.
I can never do that he thought to himself. And just when the music had turned into a slower song. Just calling out them to be in each other's arms. Fate came in and told him that it was not going to happen. "Daddy?" came a small voice.
Uh oh Max sighed at the small voice, as he turned and saw his young princess looking up at him. "Yes, Ella?"
As he looked down at the mirror of his late wife. Edie. Ella is very much like her mother he thought. Noah looks more like me. They were twins, but they were as different as you could be as they were fraternal in looks too, and most of the time you would not know they were twins. But there were those moments when they teamed up, and it became very apparent.
"Yvonne wanted to me to come and tell you to stop dancing with the lady," Ella muttered, and she got the response she anticipated when her stepmother ordered her to intercede in the moment that her father and Liz were having.
She did, did she Max flinched and anger came to the top of mind. That does it he also thought.