PART 29
Journal Entry 37
They are home… literally. Back in the world where they belong. The world that is so foreign to us, but one that would hopefully not be as foreign to our children. And for now they only have to face normal human problems…
Liz turned to her father who was standing in the backdoor of the Crashdown, a frown creasing his face. Luckily the seat had been shielding him from seeing too much of what was going on between her and Max, but he probably saw enough of the heat of their kiss to get concerned. Liz decided to play it cool, but she had trouble not shivering when Max removed his hands slowly from beneath her shirt. “Hi Dad!”
“Hi Lizzie.” Jeff watched Max with suspicion. He remembered quite clearly that this was the same young man that had kept Liz out all night not so long ago. They had managed to convince him then that nothing too intimate had happened, but the kiss he just witnessed was screaming of something he did not even want to think about. He saw Max straighten his shoulders and face him squarely.
“Hi Mr. Parker.” Max could see the various emotions flitting across Liz’s Dad’s face and he didn’t blame him. He suspected if he ever saw some guy mauling his daughter like that, he would flatten the guy.
“Max.” Jeff’s voice was neutral. He would talk to Liz before jumping to conclusions. Apart from a few incidents, which coming to think of it all included this Max, she had never given him and Nancy anything to worry about. He stood his ground, making it clear that he wasn’t going inside without Liz.
Max helped Liz get her stuff from the car and unconsciously took her hand as they walked over to her father. Since Jeff was still standing in the door, he ended up handing her gear to her father. Turning to Liz, his voice was low when he said goodbye. He gripped her hand fiercely, hoping that somehow she could feel how hard it was for him to let her go and walk away. That she would feel how desperately he wanted to kiss her one last time.
Liz smiled up at him, but her eyes were filming with tears. She decided to ignore her father’s menacing presence and hugged Max fiercely, whispering goodbye in his ear. She turned away quickly when she disentangled herself from his arms, hoping to shield her wet eyes from his gaze, but his voice stopped her.
“Liz.”
He knew. He knew how she felt and it was killing him to let her go like that. Liz knew she had to get away before she really started bawling, so she just mumbled ‘goodbye Max’ and took off up the stairs.
Jeff observed this whole scene with trepidation. It was clear that something intense was going on between his daughter and Max. He wasn’t sure that he was all that comfortable with it. But he also couldn’t help noticing how protective Max was of Liz. And that, at least, earned him some points in Jeff’s book.
Max was staring at the top of the stairs where Liz had disappeared. His heart ached for her. He wished he could go and comfort her. He also wished that it didn’t feel like it would be forever before he could see her again.
“So Max, what is going on between you and Liz?” Jeff came right to the point.
Recovering from his initial shock at the question, Max realized that a lot was riding on his answer. He needed to stick as close to the truth as he possibly could, while leaving out the parts of an alien bonding ceremony and an engagement. He met Jeff’s gaze. “I’m in love with your daughter, Mr. Parker.”
Jeff was speechless. What do you say to that? ‘You are too young to know what love means’? ‘Break her heart and I’ll kill you’? None of these responses seem fitting in the light of the sincerity in Max’s eyes. So he ended up just nodding. “I’ll take her stuff up.”
“Mr. Parker!” Max was taking a chance. “Is it okay if I come pick Liz up for a movie tonight?”
The words hung in the air for a few tense moments before Jeff turned back to Max. “Just don’t make it a late show, she looks really tired.” Again he couldn’t help but notice the happiness and relief on Max’s face. He suddenly felt sorry for the guy. He obviously had it bad for Lizzie.
Max stared after Mr. Parker and exhaled the breath he hadn’t even realized he had been holding. Maybe, just maybe, things would work out for him and Liz this time…
~*~*~*~*~*~
Journal Entry 38 (Final)
And so our experiment has come to an end. There is hope for our people here on earth. A hope that started with the love between our young leader and a human girl.
Love.
A word and emotion so foreign to my people now seems like it was always a part of us. I watched the impact of this emotion on these six young people and I’m stunned that the human race is not much stronger because of it. Instead, they use this emotion to hurt and weaken one another. Will this happen to my people once they integrate into humanity? Unfortunately I think it would. In each race of people there are the good and strong, but also the weak and evil.
Aaron and Kayla, your son IS the savior of our people as we had hoped. Not in the manner you had initially planned, but in another more exiting and surprising way. He led the way for integration into humanity and showed us that we could learn to adapt on this new planet. He also showed us that there are humans that could become even closer to us than any mate our genetic coding could ever manufacture.
Her name is Liz.
She makes him strong and she loves him unconditionally. She has character, intelligence and beauty. You could not have chosen him a better mate yourselves. They have a connection the strength of which I had never seen before. They shine when they are together. And yes, physical intimacy with humans is possible. We still have to learn about children, but I am positive that even that uncertainty can be overcome in time.
Your daughter is beautiful. She is strong and a worthy princess for our people. She supports and helps Max because she loves him too. Their bond is not one of obligation, but one of choice and caring.
Max’s second-in-command is a worthy warrior. I had watched as he saved his leader’s life on more than one occasion. He is having trouble adapting to human life, but I think he is on the way to finding himself.
I am sad that these young people will never see our beautiful planet. That they will never get to meet their parents. But they have made a life for themselves here on earth. A good life. One filled with each other and the humans that care about them.
We have a long way to go before we can rest easy about our futures here on this planet. The others are here and we don’t know how many they are or how much they know about us. Keeping these three important members of our race alive is our goal now…
THE END
And the song that inspired it all:
STRAIGHT TO MY HEART: Sting
Well in a hundred years from now, they will attempt to tell us how
A scientific means to bliss will supercede the human kiss
A sub atomic chain will maybe galvanize the brain
Or a biochemic trance will eliminate romance
But why ever should we care, when there are arrows in the air
Formed by lovers’ ancient art, that go straight to my heart.
A future sugarcoated pill would give our lovers time to kill
I think they’re working far too much for the redundancy of touch
But what will make me yours are a million deadly spores
Formed by lovers’ ancient art, that go straight to my heart.
If it’s a future world we fear, we have tomorrow’s seeds’ right here
For you can hold them in your hand or let them fall into the sand
But if our love is pure, the only thing of which we’re sure
Then you can play your part and fly straight to my heart.
If I should seek immunity and love you with impunity
Then the only thing to do is for me to pledge myself to you
But they only dealt one card, so for me it is not hard
You’re the bright star in my chart, you go straight to my heart.
Come into my door, be the light of my life
Come into my door, you’ll never have to sweep the floor
Come into my door, be the light of my life,
Come into my door, come and be my wife.
I’LL BE TRUE, TO NO ONE BUT YOU!
There you have it, the first story in the Experiment Series. I'll be posting the Chapters of "Finding our Normal", the 2nd installment in the series, next.
The Experiment Series (ML, CC / Mautre) (Complete)
Moderators: Itzstacie, Forum Moderators
FON 1
TITLE: Finding Our Normal
AUTHOR: LivE
E-MAIL: lieselvw@mweb.co.za
RATING: R/NC-17 in some parts
CATEGORY: M/L all the way!
DISCLAIMER: Sadly, nothing Roswell is mine.
SUMMARY: This is a sequel to The Experiment. It was supposed to be less angsty, but the plot has overtaken me! Here are the basics: Max and Liz are back in Roswell. It’s nearing the end of their summer holidays and one (or maybe more) of the aliens from the opposing race has found them. They are also trying to conduct their relationship under the watchful eye of their parents.
DISTRIBUTION: Only here please.
FINDING OUR NORMAL
PART 1
Friday night. He’s been gone for a week. A long torturous week of not hearing his voice and not being in his arms.
The Crashdown was basically empty apart from two men sitting in one of the back booths nursing their coffees. Coffees laced with Tabasco…
Liz hardly noticed Nick’s men (or were they Max’s now?) hovering around her protectively anymore. She sat at the counter of the Crashdown, her eyes unfocused as she stared out the window. Max… Her body heated up just thinking about him. He was so perfect. Perfect that is, apart from the fact that he insisted on good behavior from the two of them whenever they were in a four-mile radius of their parents. His fear that her parents would bar him from seeing her if they ever found out the nature of their relationship completely overriding his baser urges. It drove her crazy! The only times she and Max had really been together during this summer, was on their infrequent weekend "camping trips". She didn’t see nearly enough of him. He was away a lot practicing his powers with Nick, Michael and Isabel. They all figured they needed to get in as much practice during the summer before school started again. At least there had been no sign of the other alien race yet. She was actually starting to wish that school would begin again, just so she could see him more often…
Liz sighed and closed her eyes, focusing on Max. It was scary how easily she had gotten used to this connection they shared that allowed them to pinpoint the other’s position. And the more she used it, the easier it was becoming. Boy, would that come in handy when they’re back in school! Eraser room meetings could now be orchestrated without the passing of little notes. Where was he now? She concentrated harder and felt a sudden surge of electricity on her body. He was on his way back!
She jumped off the chair and raced into the backroom, finding a somber Maria at her locker. "They’re on their way back!" she cried breathlessly.
Maria perked up immediately and hugged Liz. "I love your little radar for Max! I love you!!" Maria turned into a whirlwind of activity. "I have to go home and dress! I have to—"
Liz was laughing by now. "Maria, calm down! They won’t be here for a while yet!"
"Hmpf! You are taking all of this way to calmly, Ms-Queen-of-an-Alien-Race!"
Liz’s eyes widened as she spied her dad coming through the back room swing door. "Maria!" she hissed warningly.
They both relaxed when Jeff gave them his usual absent greeting. "Hey Lizzie. Maria. What are you two up to tonight?"
"Uhm. We’re going out to see a movie, Dad. You know, girls night out."
Jeff looked at his daughter more sharply. Her eyes were shining and she radiated excitement. He knew Max was gone with some of his friends on a hiking trip and that Lizzie had seemed to lose her natural liveliness while he was away. He frowned, wondering for the umpteenth time about the intensity he could always sense just beneath the surface between his daughter and Max Evans. Nancy was not too thrilled about the relationship, but so far the kids had not given them any reason to panic. Max always had her home by curfew and their embraces were within bounds. While he was around anyway... But he remembered that kiss he witnessed when they returned from the school camp quite vividly and he didn’t have any illusions that some heavy making out were taking place when the parents were not around. They were normal teenagers after all…
"So, just the two of you? Where’s Alex?"
Maria and Liz were practically dancing around with impatience to get away from Jeff. "Oh no, he… uhm, he has a family thing on tonight." Maria was praying that the topic of her lie didn’t just walk into the café right then. "So, we need to go get dressed. Is it okay if we leave you to lock up, Mr Parker?"
Jeff smiled, still enjoying the sparkle that was back in Liz’s eyes. "Sure." He had barely finished the word before the two girls were halfway up the stairs on the way to Liz’s room.
~*~*~*~*~*~
They waited in front of Michael’s apartment, but Maria was driving Liz crazy asking where their guys were every few seconds. "Stop Maria! I can’t concentrate if you carry on like this." Liz waved her hand to get her friend’s attention.
"Liz. I love you, but you really have to start getting better at this connection thing. I’m dying out here!" Maria complained.
Liz sat with closed eyes, ignoring Maria and taking deep breaths in an effort to find Max. She had just managed to find their connection when her door was pulled open and a pair of strong arms lifted her from the car.
"Wow, I missed you!" His beloved voice was gruff. He hugged her to him fiercely, nearly squeezing the breath from her body.
Liz vaguely heard other excited voices, probably Michael and Maria saying hi too, but all her concentration went into being in the only place that she would ever call home again. Max Evans’ arms. She pressed closer to him, trying to absorb his heat and scent into her skin. How was it possible that the more she was with him, the more she needed to be with him?
Max couldn’t take the chance of kissing Liz right then. His body was feeling the weeklong absence sharply and he needed to get her alone. "Let’s go."
Liz gave him a knowing look and turned to Maria. "I’m going to phone my parents and tell them we’re seeing the late show. Then I’m sleeping over at your house, okay?"
Maria grinned at her pleading look. "Sure, Princess Leia! Go feed your alien. I’ll cover for you."
It said a lot for Max and Liz’s desperation to be alone that neither of them reacted to Maria’s ribbing. Nick was taking Isabel to Alex’s while Maria and Michael disappeared into his apartment.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The Jeep raced through the night and the wind whipped Liz’s hair around her face. She couldn’t care less. She knew where they were going. The pod chamber. It had become one of their favorite places to be alone since they’ve returned from the alien camp. With their first few times Max had been trying to exorcise the ‘destiny’ demons symbolized by the four pods. Later it had just become one of the safest places for them to be together…
They stopped inside the chamber, out of breath from the reckless run up the side of the rock outcrop. Sleeping bags lay on the floor between them, undisturbed from the previous time they had been there. Max lighted the myriad of candles around the chamber with a snap of his fingers and then he was kissing Liz. Finally…
~*~*~*~*~*~
Jeff Parker noticed that the two men that always seemed to be around the café whenever Liz was working had left when she did. He shook his head. Was his imagination playing tricks on him or were there all sorts of weird things happening since Liz came back from that school camp at the beginning of summer? Nancy kept saying that something strange was going on with Max, but all Jeff could see was a boy that was totally smitten with his daughter. Okay, maybe he was a bit too intense with her, but surely that wasn’t a reason to call him strange?
The door of the café jingled and Jeff turned to the new customer. It was a lone figure with dark eyes. He stood for a moment inside the door, scanning the empty room. He finally looked at Jeff, dismissed him, turned around and left.
Jeff shivered. Now that was strange!
Chapter 2 next.
AUTHOR: LivE
E-MAIL: lieselvw@mweb.co.za
RATING: R/NC-17 in some parts
CATEGORY: M/L all the way!
DISCLAIMER: Sadly, nothing Roswell is mine.
SUMMARY: This is a sequel to The Experiment. It was supposed to be less angsty, but the plot has overtaken me! Here are the basics: Max and Liz are back in Roswell. It’s nearing the end of their summer holidays and one (or maybe more) of the aliens from the opposing race has found them. They are also trying to conduct their relationship under the watchful eye of their parents.
DISTRIBUTION: Only here please.
FINDING OUR NORMAL
PART 1
Friday night. He’s been gone for a week. A long torturous week of not hearing his voice and not being in his arms.
The Crashdown was basically empty apart from two men sitting in one of the back booths nursing their coffees. Coffees laced with Tabasco…
Liz hardly noticed Nick’s men (or were they Max’s now?) hovering around her protectively anymore. She sat at the counter of the Crashdown, her eyes unfocused as she stared out the window. Max… Her body heated up just thinking about him. He was so perfect. Perfect that is, apart from the fact that he insisted on good behavior from the two of them whenever they were in a four-mile radius of their parents. His fear that her parents would bar him from seeing her if they ever found out the nature of their relationship completely overriding his baser urges. It drove her crazy! The only times she and Max had really been together during this summer, was on their infrequent weekend "camping trips". She didn’t see nearly enough of him. He was away a lot practicing his powers with Nick, Michael and Isabel. They all figured they needed to get in as much practice during the summer before school started again. At least there had been no sign of the other alien race yet. She was actually starting to wish that school would begin again, just so she could see him more often…
Liz sighed and closed her eyes, focusing on Max. It was scary how easily she had gotten used to this connection they shared that allowed them to pinpoint the other’s position. And the more she used it, the easier it was becoming. Boy, would that come in handy when they’re back in school! Eraser room meetings could now be orchestrated without the passing of little notes. Where was he now? She concentrated harder and felt a sudden surge of electricity on her body. He was on his way back!
She jumped off the chair and raced into the backroom, finding a somber Maria at her locker. "They’re on their way back!" she cried breathlessly.
Maria perked up immediately and hugged Liz. "I love your little radar for Max! I love you!!" Maria turned into a whirlwind of activity. "I have to go home and dress! I have to—"
Liz was laughing by now. "Maria, calm down! They won’t be here for a while yet!"
"Hmpf! You are taking all of this way to calmly, Ms-Queen-of-an-Alien-Race!"
Liz’s eyes widened as she spied her dad coming through the back room swing door. "Maria!" she hissed warningly.
They both relaxed when Jeff gave them his usual absent greeting. "Hey Lizzie. Maria. What are you two up to tonight?"
"Uhm. We’re going out to see a movie, Dad. You know, girls night out."
Jeff looked at his daughter more sharply. Her eyes were shining and she radiated excitement. He knew Max was gone with some of his friends on a hiking trip and that Lizzie had seemed to lose her natural liveliness while he was away. He frowned, wondering for the umpteenth time about the intensity he could always sense just beneath the surface between his daughter and Max Evans. Nancy was not too thrilled about the relationship, but so far the kids had not given them any reason to panic. Max always had her home by curfew and their embraces were within bounds. While he was around anyway... But he remembered that kiss he witnessed when they returned from the school camp quite vividly and he didn’t have any illusions that some heavy making out were taking place when the parents were not around. They were normal teenagers after all…
"So, just the two of you? Where’s Alex?"
Maria and Liz were practically dancing around with impatience to get away from Jeff. "Oh no, he… uhm, he has a family thing on tonight." Maria was praying that the topic of her lie didn’t just walk into the café right then. "So, we need to go get dressed. Is it okay if we leave you to lock up, Mr Parker?"
Jeff smiled, still enjoying the sparkle that was back in Liz’s eyes. "Sure." He had barely finished the word before the two girls were halfway up the stairs on the way to Liz’s room.
~*~*~*~*~*~
They waited in front of Michael’s apartment, but Maria was driving Liz crazy asking where their guys were every few seconds. "Stop Maria! I can’t concentrate if you carry on like this." Liz waved her hand to get her friend’s attention.
"Liz. I love you, but you really have to start getting better at this connection thing. I’m dying out here!" Maria complained.
Liz sat with closed eyes, ignoring Maria and taking deep breaths in an effort to find Max. She had just managed to find their connection when her door was pulled open and a pair of strong arms lifted her from the car.
"Wow, I missed you!" His beloved voice was gruff. He hugged her to him fiercely, nearly squeezing the breath from her body.
Liz vaguely heard other excited voices, probably Michael and Maria saying hi too, but all her concentration went into being in the only place that she would ever call home again. Max Evans’ arms. She pressed closer to him, trying to absorb his heat and scent into her skin. How was it possible that the more she was with him, the more she needed to be with him?
Max couldn’t take the chance of kissing Liz right then. His body was feeling the weeklong absence sharply and he needed to get her alone. "Let’s go."
Liz gave him a knowing look and turned to Maria. "I’m going to phone my parents and tell them we’re seeing the late show. Then I’m sleeping over at your house, okay?"
Maria grinned at her pleading look. "Sure, Princess Leia! Go feed your alien. I’ll cover for you."
It said a lot for Max and Liz’s desperation to be alone that neither of them reacted to Maria’s ribbing. Nick was taking Isabel to Alex’s while Maria and Michael disappeared into his apartment.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The Jeep raced through the night and the wind whipped Liz’s hair around her face. She couldn’t care less. She knew where they were going. The pod chamber. It had become one of their favorite places to be alone since they’ve returned from the alien camp. With their first few times Max had been trying to exorcise the ‘destiny’ demons symbolized by the four pods. Later it had just become one of the safest places for them to be together…
They stopped inside the chamber, out of breath from the reckless run up the side of the rock outcrop. Sleeping bags lay on the floor between them, undisturbed from the previous time they had been there. Max lighted the myriad of candles around the chamber with a snap of his fingers and then he was kissing Liz. Finally…
~*~*~*~*~*~
Jeff Parker noticed that the two men that always seemed to be around the café whenever Liz was working had left when she did. He shook his head. Was his imagination playing tricks on him or were there all sorts of weird things happening since Liz came back from that school camp at the beginning of summer? Nancy kept saying that something strange was going on with Max, but all Jeff could see was a boy that was totally smitten with his daughter. Okay, maybe he was a bit too intense with her, but surely that wasn’t a reason to call him strange?
The door of the café jingled and Jeff turned to the new customer. It was a lone figure with dark eyes. He stood for a moment inside the door, scanning the empty room. He finally looked at Jeff, dismissed him, turned around and left.
Jeff shivered. Now that was strange!
Chapter 2 next.
FON 2
PART 2
Max held Liz against him as he struggled to get his heart rate and breathing back to normal. Their lovemaking had been desperate and urgent, fuelled by a week of abstinence and a need for each other that was growing instead of abating. Propping himself up on his elbows, he stared at her beautiful face. Her eyes were still closed in ecstasy and her hair was tangled around her where his fingers had so hungrily and eagerly spread the silky tresses. When he held her in his arms, he could tell how much she wanted to be there and it amazed him still. His life has changed so much since that fateful day in the Crashdown last September. But if all that had happened since had led him to this place, tangled in Liz Parker’s loving embrace, then he would do it all over again if he needed to.
Max traced her face lovingly. He shaped her eyebrows and her cute nose and caressed her cheek softly with his fingertips. He leant closer to her and whispered ‘I love you’ against her waiting lips. Just the simple pleasure of being able to say that as often as he wanted was precious to him. No more destiny standing in their way. Just the two of them, pledged to each other already and committed for life.
Liz smiled, almost purring at the sensations Max was creating with his soft caresses. He literally had the most magic touch and he used it on her regularly with devastating effect. Now that the worst of their urgency had been dulled, they could enjoy just being together without worrying about interruptions.
Max nuzzled her nose. “Am I getting heavy?”
In answer, she pulled him down to her, creating electrifying contact between their bare upper bodies. "I missed you terribly this time. A week is too long to be without you.”
He sighed. “I know.” Max kissed her lingeringly, his tongue sweeping across her lower lip. “I think the others saw that I wasn’t all that effective after being away from you for so long. So we came back.”
At this Liz’s eyes flew open. “Max, no please! You mustn’t let me prevent you from doing your duty! I want you to do your duty. Please. I just… I just miss you sometimes.” The last bit was mumbled with her head turned away.
“Only sometimes?” Max’s voice was amused.
“This is not something to joke about, Max. I really, really don’t want to be in your way!” Liz was fast becoming upset and it was showing in her voice.
“Hey! Look at me.” Max gripped her chin and turned her to look at him. “Part of my duty is to make sure that you are safe too. You’re my family now and I need to have you as a priority in my life. Don’t ever feel like you should be second after everybody else. You’re not and you will never be!”
Liz bit her lip. “I just don’t want you guys to get hurt because I kept you from preparing…”
“I promise not to let that happen, okay? Now can we get back to being young and in love and alone in a place with millions of stars to watch?” He got up and pulled one of the sleeping bags around him. He opened his arms invitingly, his hands holding the edges of the bag. “Are you joining me?”
Liz felt suddenly vulnerable lying there without clothes or Max’s body to cover her, so she jumped up and rushed into his arms. She slapped his chest at his knowing grin. “I’m not used to it, okay!”
He hugged her to him again and pressed his face in her hair. “And I love you for it…”
They were halfway out the cave when Liz remembered that she should call her parents. “Uhm Max? Can you stay tonight or are we going home?”
“I’m sorry, honey, but I should really go home. Otherwise Iz will have to stay over at Alex’s so my parents won’t get suspicious and then Alex’s parents would get suspicious... Its just too complicated.”
Liz nodded silently, hating the situation they were in. She pulled Max with her to her phone and dialed her home number. When her mother answered, she explained that Maria and her had decided to watch two movies and would be home really late. Liz couldn’t help but wince when she heard her mother’s hurried acceptance of her story, clearly still under the impression that Max was away and all was safe for her little girl.
Max felt her tension and ran his hands over her comfortingly. “Liz, I’m sorry. I know you hate lying to them. I do too. But right now, I don’t see another way for us. I’m so sorry.”
Turning towards him until she could snuggle against his chest, Liz was quiet for a few moments. Finally she looked up into his eyes. “Max, if the alternative is not being with you at all, then I’m willing to do this.”
Max picked her up and carried her out of the cave into the open where galaxies of twinkling stars were shining down upon them.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz slept late the next morning. She only had to work the afternoon shift and her late night excursion with Max had tired her out. He had insisted on stopping in the ally next to the café when they got back, in spite of her worries that her parents might still be awake. However, the darkness of the apartment eliminated her concerns. Max, being Max, wanted to make sure that she got in her room safely, so Liz just smiled and humored him.
The first person Liz spotted when she came down to the café just before lunch was Diane Evans. Liz faltered for a moment, not really used to seeing Max’s mom eating at the Crashdown. In fact, the last time Diane had been at the café was when she and Max had come home after finding the orb in the desert. Of course Diane spotted her immediately.
“Hi Liz.” Diane smiled at the girl that had won her aloof son’s heart so resoundingly. She was still a bit amazed at the fact that Max not only dated, but had a steady girlfriend.
Liz smiled back tentatively. She still wasn’t sure where she stood with Diane. “Hi, Mrs. Evans. How are you?”
“I’m wonderful actually. Max and Isabel came back from their trip last night.” She watched Liz’s reactions carefully and saw what she had suspected since Max had not hightailed it out of the house at first light this morning. Liz knew about Max’s return.
“Wow! Uhm… that’s great.” Liz was a terrible liar and she suspected that Diane saw right through her little attempt to insinuate that she had no idea Max was back. Then she hit on an idea. “Yeah, he… he called me last night to say hi. I’m so happy he’s back. I really missed him.”
Diane was looking at her speculatively. “You two are really very close, aren’t you?”
Liz wondered if this was a trick question, but the expression on Diane’s face showed only genuine interest. She stated the truth in a soft but sure voice. “I love him very much, Mrs. Evans.”
Max’s mom nodded her head thoughtfully, taking in Liz’s serious countenance.
The moment was interrupted by Nancy Parker’s voice. “I’m not sure you should be throwing around words like love at your age, young lady. It’s a serious statement to make.” She turned towards Diane. “Hi. Do you have everything you need?”
Diane smiled at Nancy and wondered about the fact that she didn’t notice the hurt flashing in her daughter’s eyes at her words. Did Nancy not know that she was belittling something precious and important to Liz, even if she didn’t believe Liz knew what she was talking about?
Max chose that awkward moment to arrive at the Crashdown and was stunned when he saw Liz surrounded by their mothers. He walked over to her side quickly and took her hand. Whatever she was facing, he would help her.
His mom observed the instinctive protective role Max took in with Liz, obviously under the impression that she was being cornered. Max turned Liz towards him, as if he could ward off any threats to her with his body. And Liz, she was staring up at Max as if he was the answer to all her prayers. It was a profound moment for Diane. Suddenly she saw her little boy as a man.
Nancy saw the opposite. She saw a young man that wanted her little girl to grow up too fast. A young man that was fast becoming the most important thing in Liz’s life and thus had an increased ability to break her daughter’s heart.
It was Diane that broke the tense silence first. “Hi Max. I was just telling Liz that you were back, but she said that you called her last night when you got home.” She saw the tenseness leave her son’s shoulders and the small, tender smile he gave Liz.
“Yeah. I was just coming to say hi before I have to go to work.” He looked at Nancy. “Is it okay if we go outside for a little while?”
Her curt nod said it all. Nancy wasn’t all that thrilled with the idea of Max and Liz being alone. But since it was broad daylight, she couldn’t find a valid objection. “Just don’t be too long, Liz. Your shift starts soon.”
The two mothers watched with differing emotions as their kids left the café holding hands.
Chapter 3 next.
Max held Liz against him as he struggled to get his heart rate and breathing back to normal. Their lovemaking had been desperate and urgent, fuelled by a week of abstinence and a need for each other that was growing instead of abating. Propping himself up on his elbows, he stared at her beautiful face. Her eyes were still closed in ecstasy and her hair was tangled around her where his fingers had so hungrily and eagerly spread the silky tresses. When he held her in his arms, he could tell how much she wanted to be there and it amazed him still. His life has changed so much since that fateful day in the Crashdown last September. But if all that had happened since had led him to this place, tangled in Liz Parker’s loving embrace, then he would do it all over again if he needed to.
Max traced her face lovingly. He shaped her eyebrows and her cute nose and caressed her cheek softly with his fingertips. He leant closer to her and whispered ‘I love you’ against her waiting lips. Just the simple pleasure of being able to say that as often as he wanted was precious to him. No more destiny standing in their way. Just the two of them, pledged to each other already and committed for life.
Liz smiled, almost purring at the sensations Max was creating with his soft caresses. He literally had the most magic touch and he used it on her regularly with devastating effect. Now that the worst of their urgency had been dulled, they could enjoy just being together without worrying about interruptions.
Max nuzzled her nose. “Am I getting heavy?”
In answer, she pulled him down to her, creating electrifying contact between their bare upper bodies. "I missed you terribly this time. A week is too long to be without you.”
He sighed. “I know.” Max kissed her lingeringly, his tongue sweeping across her lower lip. “I think the others saw that I wasn’t all that effective after being away from you for so long. So we came back.”
At this Liz’s eyes flew open. “Max, no please! You mustn’t let me prevent you from doing your duty! I want you to do your duty. Please. I just… I just miss you sometimes.” The last bit was mumbled with her head turned away.
“Only sometimes?” Max’s voice was amused.
“This is not something to joke about, Max. I really, really don’t want to be in your way!” Liz was fast becoming upset and it was showing in her voice.
“Hey! Look at me.” Max gripped her chin and turned her to look at him. “Part of my duty is to make sure that you are safe too. You’re my family now and I need to have you as a priority in my life. Don’t ever feel like you should be second after everybody else. You’re not and you will never be!”
Liz bit her lip. “I just don’t want you guys to get hurt because I kept you from preparing…”
“I promise not to let that happen, okay? Now can we get back to being young and in love and alone in a place with millions of stars to watch?” He got up and pulled one of the sleeping bags around him. He opened his arms invitingly, his hands holding the edges of the bag. “Are you joining me?”
Liz felt suddenly vulnerable lying there without clothes or Max’s body to cover her, so she jumped up and rushed into his arms. She slapped his chest at his knowing grin. “I’m not used to it, okay!”
He hugged her to him again and pressed his face in her hair. “And I love you for it…”
They were halfway out the cave when Liz remembered that she should call her parents. “Uhm Max? Can you stay tonight or are we going home?”
“I’m sorry, honey, but I should really go home. Otherwise Iz will have to stay over at Alex’s so my parents won’t get suspicious and then Alex’s parents would get suspicious... Its just too complicated.”
Liz nodded silently, hating the situation they were in. She pulled Max with her to her phone and dialed her home number. When her mother answered, she explained that Maria and her had decided to watch two movies and would be home really late. Liz couldn’t help but wince when she heard her mother’s hurried acceptance of her story, clearly still under the impression that Max was away and all was safe for her little girl.
Max felt her tension and ran his hands over her comfortingly. “Liz, I’m sorry. I know you hate lying to them. I do too. But right now, I don’t see another way for us. I’m so sorry.”
Turning towards him until she could snuggle against his chest, Liz was quiet for a few moments. Finally she looked up into his eyes. “Max, if the alternative is not being with you at all, then I’m willing to do this.”
Max picked her up and carried her out of the cave into the open where galaxies of twinkling stars were shining down upon them.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz slept late the next morning. She only had to work the afternoon shift and her late night excursion with Max had tired her out. He had insisted on stopping in the ally next to the café when they got back, in spite of her worries that her parents might still be awake. However, the darkness of the apartment eliminated her concerns. Max, being Max, wanted to make sure that she got in her room safely, so Liz just smiled and humored him.
The first person Liz spotted when she came down to the café just before lunch was Diane Evans. Liz faltered for a moment, not really used to seeing Max’s mom eating at the Crashdown. In fact, the last time Diane had been at the café was when she and Max had come home after finding the orb in the desert. Of course Diane spotted her immediately.
“Hi Liz.” Diane smiled at the girl that had won her aloof son’s heart so resoundingly. She was still a bit amazed at the fact that Max not only dated, but had a steady girlfriend.
Liz smiled back tentatively. She still wasn’t sure where she stood with Diane. “Hi, Mrs. Evans. How are you?”
“I’m wonderful actually. Max and Isabel came back from their trip last night.” She watched Liz’s reactions carefully and saw what she had suspected since Max had not hightailed it out of the house at first light this morning. Liz knew about Max’s return.
“Wow! Uhm… that’s great.” Liz was a terrible liar and she suspected that Diane saw right through her little attempt to insinuate that she had no idea Max was back. Then she hit on an idea. “Yeah, he… he called me last night to say hi. I’m so happy he’s back. I really missed him.”
Diane was looking at her speculatively. “You two are really very close, aren’t you?”
Liz wondered if this was a trick question, but the expression on Diane’s face showed only genuine interest. She stated the truth in a soft but sure voice. “I love him very much, Mrs. Evans.”
Max’s mom nodded her head thoughtfully, taking in Liz’s serious countenance.
The moment was interrupted by Nancy Parker’s voice. “I’m not sure you should be throwing around words like love at your age, young lady. It’s a serious statement to make.” She turned towards Diane. “Hi. Do you have everything you need?”
Diane smiled at Nancy and wondered about the fact that she didn’t notice the hurt flashing in her daughter’s eyes at her words. Did Nancy not know that she was belittling something precious and important to Liz, even if she didn’t believe Liz knew what she was talking about?
Max chose that awkward moment to arrive at the Crashdown and was stunned when he saw Liz surrounded by their mothers. He walked over to her side quickly and took her hand. Whatever she was facing, he would help her.
His mom observed the instinctive protective role Max took in with Liz, obviously under the impression that she was being cornered. Max turned Liz towards him, as if he could ward off any threats to her with his body. And Liz, she was staring up at Max as if he was the answer to all her prayers. It was a profound moment for Diane. Suddenly she saw her little boy as a man.
Nancy saw the opposite. She saw a young man that wanted her little girl to grow up too fast. A young man that was fast becoming the most important thing in Liz’s life and thus had an increased ability to break her daughter’s heart.
It was Diane that broke the tense silence first. “Hi Max. I was just telling Liz that you were back, but she said that you called her last night when you got home.” She saw the tenseness leave her son’s shoulders and the small, tender smile he gave Liz.
“Yeah. I was just coming to say hi before I have to go to work.” He looked at Nancy. “Is it okay if we go outside for a little while?”
Her curt nod said it all. Nancy wasn’t all that thrilled with the idea of Max and Liz being alone. But since it was broad daylight, she couldn’t find a valid objection. “Just don’t be too long, Liz. Your shift starts soon.”
The two mothers watched with differing emotions as their kids left the café holding hands.
Chapter 3 next.
FON 3
PART 3
Nick waited across the street while Max and Liz talked in the alley next to the Crashdown. They seemed deep in discussion and he didn’t want to interrupt. Instead, he scanned the street to watch for anything suspicious. Nick’s people were still having trouble with finding the right rhythm in integrating into the town while managing to stay inconspicuous. They needed guidance and Nick had decided that their young leader should be the one to provide it.
His eyes returned to the couple who was now sharing lingering kisses. He smiled. It was good to see them so close and in love. Maybe one-day Nick’s own children could share the same happiness…
~*~*~*~*~*~
Max jogged across the street with his normal goofy I’ve-been-with-Liz smile. He slowed when he reached the opposite curb and his countenance turned serious again. He wished he could make a home with Liz somewhere, so that they could go home to each other every night instead of to separate houses in different parts of town. But here they were, two teenagers with an out-of-this-world love and the threat of extinction from a rival alien race hanging over their heads. Max felt a moment of supreme panic. He was a 17-year old guy, for Pete’s sake! How was he supposed to cope with all this? He desperately needed some help. Max took a deep breath. He needed Sheriff Valenti.
Max halted when Nick blocked the entrance of the UFO museum. “Hey Nick.” He saw a moment of concern flash in Nick’s eyes at the choked tone of his voice.
“We need to talk, Max. Its urgent.”
Max’s panic flared up again, but he didn’t let it show. Instead he turned instinctively so that he could see Liz through the window of the Crashdown. She was safe and he saw her two “bodyguards”, Marcus and Chris, arrive at the café. Max frowned. He needed to do something about it always being those two near Liz. Someone was bound to notice.
Nick cleared his throat, amused that Max was staring at Liz across the street. These two were so sappy! He repeated his request from earlier when he had Max’s attention back. “We need to talk. I’ll meet you after work.”
Max nodded silently, his piercing eyes trying to pinpoint the reason for Nick’s request. Nick was unreadable as usual. Max turned back to the Crashdown. His heart ached for Liz. How was he ever going to prove to her mother that he wasn’t just another boyfriend that would hurt her daughter? How could he prove that he loved Liz more than his own life and never wanted to be without her? That he was addicted to her presence and needed her support to stay standing under the weight of the crushing responsibilities that he had so suddenly and unexpectedly inherited? That not only him, but his whole race of people would protect Liz with their lives? Max knew he HAD to find a way to get Nancy Parker on their side.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz had returned to her post in the café feeling warmed by Max’s protective and caring attitude towards her. When she was with him it was easy to believe that they would make it through all this because they were together.
She slogged through the afternoon shift. With only a few customers to serve, there was a lot of time to think about her life. Liz was sitting at the counter, staring into space when Maria’s voice interrupted her.
“Earth to Liz! He’s only across the street, you know!”
Liz grinned at her best friend. “Maria no! I was not thinking about him.”
Maria gave her the ‘yeah right’ look. “So, I see we are yet again overrun by customers waiting to be fed with alien-themed fair.” She looked at Liz again. “Okay, so what’s wrong?”
“My mom hates Max. She doesn’t like me seeing him and she’s quite obvious about it.” Liz bit her lip. “Maria, I need him.”
Maria put her arm around Liz. “She’ll come around. Come one, who doesn’t love Max?” Maria saw that Liz only smiled weakly at her attempt to lighten the mood. Hmmm, maybe she could sing Max’s praises with Mrs. Evans at every possible moment to help Liz. Her thoughts were interrupted by Jeff Parker.
"Lizzie! Can I talk to you in the back, please?" Jeff’s voice halted his daughter on her way to pour coffee for a customer. She entered the back room to find her dad standing at the door, looking through the round window that gave him a view of the inside of his café. Liz briefly wondered if Max was out there, but realized she felt him still being in the UFO Museum across the street. "What’s up, Dad?"
"I was just wondering if you knew those two men sitting in the café?" Jeff motioned her closer to the window.
Liz had to stand on her tiptoes to be able to see through the glass. Her father was pointing at Marcus and Chris. Her heart fluttered nervously. Why was her dad asking about them? “Uhm… Why are you asking, Dad?"
Jeff turned to his daughter. "Because they’ve been here almost every day this summer and they keep watching you…" He didn’t even want to mention that it looked like they deferred to his daughter. That was way too weird and he was truly hoping that it had been his imagination.
What should she tell her dad? That she was basically the Queen of an alien race because she had "married" their leader? "Uhm…Dad—”
Maria barged into the back, startling Jeff and Liz but effectively ending the discussion. “I’m sorry, Mr Parker, but some of Liz’s customers are asking for her.” With this, she basically dragged Liz out to the counter. She waved her hands when Liz glared at her. “What?! So I was eavesdropping!”
Liz shook her head. “Well, you saved my butt so I’ll ignore this lapse.” She stopped and looked over at her guards. “Make sure my dad isn’t around, I need to get those two out of here.”
As Maria went off to the back, Liz strode over to her protectors purposefully and tried not to laugh when she saw them blanch as a result. Wow, how weird was her life? “Okay, guys, you need to leave. Max is right across the street and I know some self-defense. Besides, my dad is asking questions about you two.”
Marcus and Chris looked at each other. They had orders from Nick who claimed his orders were from Max. But this was Max’s mate and she way outranked Nick. They got up nervously when Liz folded her arms, staring them down until they were out the door.
Max watched from the inside of the UFO Museum as Liz’s bodyguards fairly slunk out of the café. He had felt a moment of fear and then annoyance from her and had of course rushed over to a place from where he could see her. She was scowling at Marcus and Chris fiercely and Max had to stifle a laugh. A laugh that died a quick death when he saw the other man standing outside the Crashdown window, apparently staring at Liz. Max cautioned himself not to be overly paranoid, but then the guy moved towards the door of the café, his eyes never leaving Liz.
Max broke into a run, bursting from the UFO Museum and onto the street. His heart was racing and he barely looked for traffic before he was dashing across the road. It felt like he was watching everything in slow motion. The guy stopping mere feet away from Liz, pulling out a gun, aiming at her. And Max was not going to make it in time…
A scream was torn from him. “Liz!”
Four coming up.
Nick waited across the street while Max and Liz talked in the alley next to the Crashdown. They seemed deep in discussion and he didn’t want to interrupt. Instead, he scanned the street to watch for anything suspicious. Nick’s people were still having trouble with finding the right rhythm in integrating into the town while managing to stay inconspicuous. They needed guidance and Nick had decided that their young leader should be the one to provide it.
His eyes returned to the couple who was now sharing lingering kisses. He smiled. It was good to see them so close and in love. Maybe one-day Nick’s own children could share the same happiness…
~*~*~*~*~*~
Max jogged across the street with his normal goofy I’ve-been-with-Liz smile. He slowed when he reached the opposite curb and his countenance turned serious again. He wished he could make a home with Liz somewhere, so that they could go home to each other every night instead of to separate houses in different parts of town. But here they were, two teenagers with an out-of-this-world love and the threat of extinction from a rival alien race hanging over their heads. Max felt a moment of supreme panic. He was a 17-year old guy, for Pete’s sake! How was he supposed to cope with all this? He desperately needed some help. Max took a deep breath. He needed Sheriff Valenti.
Max halted when Nick blocked the entrance of the UFO museum. “Hey Nick.” He saw a moment of concern flash in Nick’s eyes at the choked tone of his voice.
“We need to talk, Max. Its urgent.”
Max’s panic flared up again, but he didn’t let it show. Instead he turned instinctively so that he could see Liz through the window of the Crashdown. She was safe and he saw her two “bodyguards”, Marcus and Chris, arrive at the café. Max frowned. He needed to do something about it always being those two near Liz. Someone was bound to notice.
Nick cleared his throat, amused that Max was staring at Liz across the street. These two were so sappy! He repeated his request from earlier when he had Max’s attention back. “We need to talk. I’ll meet you after work.”
Max nodded silently, his piercing eyes trying to pinpoint the reason for Nick’s request. Nick was unreadable as usual. Max turned back to the Crashdown. His heart ached for Liz. How was he ever going to prove to her mother that he wasn’t just another boyfriend that would hurt her daughter? How could he prove that he loved Liz more than his own life and never wanted to be without her? That he was addicted to her presence and needed her support to stay standing under the weight of the crushing responsibilities that he had so suddenly and unexpectedly inherited? That not only him, but his whole race of people would protect Liz with their lives? Max knew he HAD to find a way to get Nancy Parker on their side.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz had returned to her post in the café feeling warmed by Max’s protective and caring attitude towards her. When she was with him it was easy to believe that they would make it through all this because they were together.
She slogged through the afternoon shift. With only a few customers to serve, there was a lot of time to think about her life. Liz was sitting at the counter, staring into space when Maria’s voice interrupted her.
“Earth to Liz! He’s only across the street, you know!”
Liz grinned at her best friend. “Maria no! I was not thinking about him.”
Maria gave her the ‘yeah right’ look. “So, I see we are yet again overrun by customers waiting to be fed with alien-themed fair.” She looked at Liz again. “Okay, so what’s wrong?”
“My mom hates Max. She doesn’t like me seeing him and she’s quite obvious about it.” Liz bit her lip. “Maria, I need him.”
Maria put her arm around Liz. “She’ll come around. Come one, who doesn’t love Max?” Maria saw that Liz only smiled weakly at her attempt to lighten the mood. Hmmm, maybe she could sing Max’s praises with Mrs. Evans at every possible moment to help Liz. Her thoughts were interrupted by Jeff Parker.
"Lizzie! Can I talk to you in the back, please?" Jeff’s voice halted his daughter on her way to pour coffee for a customer. She entered the back room to find her dad standing at the door, looking through the round window that gave him a view of the inside of his café. Liz briefly wondered if Max was out there, but realized she felt him still being in the UFO Museum across the street. "What’s up, Dad?"
"I was just wondering if you knew those two men sitting in the café?" Jeff motioned her closer to the window.
Liz had to stand on her tiptoes to be able to see through the glass. Her father was pointing at Marcus and Chris. Her heart fluttered nervously. Why was her dad asking about them? “Uhm… Why are you asking, Dad?"
Jeff turned to his daughter. "Because they’ve been here almost every day this summer and they keep watching you…" He didn’t even want to mention that it looked like they deferred to his daughter. That was way too weird and he was truly hoping that it had been his imagination.
What should she tell her dad? That she was basically the Queen of an alien race because she had "married" their leader? "Uhm…Dad—”
Maria barged into the back, startling Jeff and Liz but effectively ending the discussion. “I’m sorry, Mr Parker, but some of Liz’s customers are asking for her.” With this, she basically dragged Liz out to the counter. She waved her hands when Liz glared at her. “What?! So I was eavesdropping!”
Liz shook her head. “Well, you saved my butt so I’ll ignore this lapse.” She stopped and looked over at her guards. “Make sure my dad isn’t around, I need to get those two out of here.”
As Maria went off to the back, Liz strode over to her protectors purposefully and tried not to laugh when she saw them blanch as a result. Wow, how weird was her life? “Okay, guys, you need to leave. Max is right across the street and I know some self-defense. Besides, my dad is asking questions about you two.”
Marcus and Chris looked at each other. They had orders from Nick who claimed his orders were from Max. But this was Max’s mate and she way outranked Nick. They got up nervously when Liz folded her arms, staring them down until they were out the door.
Max watched from the inside of the UFO Museum as Liz’s bodyguards fairly slunk out of the café. He had felt a moment of fear and then annoyance from her and had of course rushed over to a place from where he could see her. She was scowling at Marcus and Chris fiercely and Max had to stifle a laugh. A laugh that died a quick death when he saw the other man standing outside the Crashdown window, apparently staring at Liz. Max cautioned himself not to be overly paranoid, but then the guy moved towards the door of the café, his eyes never leaving Liz.
Max broke into a run, bursting from the UFO Museum and onto the street. His heart was racing and he barely looked for traffic before he was dashing across the road. It felt like he was watching everything in slow motion. The guy stopping mere feet away from Liz, pulling out a gun, aiming at her. And Max was not going to make it in time…
A scream was torn from him. “Liz!”
Four coming up.
FON 4
PART 4
Liz had turned away from the door after she threw her guards out on the street. She was quite pleased with herself for being so assertive. Walking to the back of the café, a paralyzing fear unexpectedly doubled her over. She didn’t hear the door jingle behind her or see the man pulling the gun out of his pocket. She only saw her mother standing in back door with Maria and turning white as a sheet. Then she heard Max screaming her name in abject terror before she stumbled to her knees under the crush of Max’s fear. His fear for her, she realized.
The scream startled the gunman into turning around and gave Max the precious seconds he needed to get between Liz and her attacker. The guy stared at Max, now blocking his view of the girl, and dropped the gun to waist height.
Finally recovering from his fear now that Liz was safely behind him, Max felt a white-hot fury taking over. He clenched his fists at his sides, taking a threatening step forward. He could see Marcus and Chris take up position behind the attacker, waiting for his signal. The guy looked over his shoulder and back at Max, understanding dawning on his face and alerting Max to the fact that this was no random attack. This guy knew exactly what the significance of the two men behind him was. The threat to Liz had been an attempt to draw Max out…
The guy suddenly grinned. “So, your weakness has a name!”
Both Max and his guards moved towards the attacker, but he vaulted across a table and stormed out the back, flinging Liz’s mom out of the way roughly. Marcus and Chris ran out the front to follow, but Max was at Liz’s side immediately. “Are you all right?” He picked her up from the floor and hugged her fiercely.
Liz was only now recovering from the onslaught of Max’s feelings. She hadn’t had time to register what she felt during the whole exchange with the stranger due to her concentration on Max. Now she started to shiver in shock. Shock that someone had threatened her life and shock that Max had put himself right in the path of danger for her.
“Liz…” Max was too emotional to get much else out. He didn’t know how, but he knew now that she had not really been in danger. That the gunman would not have pulled the trigger. And that he had accomplished what he had wanted today. To identify Max as the leader of the opposing alien race…
Clinging to Max until her shivering abated, Liz felt her anger at Max grow. How could he have put himself in danger like that?
Max had his face pressed in Liz’s hair, his hands rubbing her back and sides comfortingly. He felt the change in her demeanor immediately. She started to stiffen in his embrace a few seconds before squirming out of his hold. Max was baffled about her actions and the anger he felt coming of her in waves until he saw her glare at him. Then he knew and started grinning. “Liz…” He stopped when he caught a movement from behind Liz. It was her mother.
Maria had helped Nancy to her feet after the gunman had shoved her out of the way during his escape. Now she just stood back and watched the events unfold.
Nancy stared at Max as if she was seeing him for the first time. Her feet were taking her closer to the couple who was now watching her warily. She was trembling. “You… you just…” Liz’s mom could not make her throat work to tell Max that she had seen what he had done for her daughter. Tears were starting to gather in her eyes and Max let Liz go so she could hug her mom. Nancy held Liz close to her, but her gaze remained on the guy she had so easily dismissed as being bad for her daughter. Max locked eyes with her. Nancy saw so much more than she normally acknowledged in his eyes. So much more than mere teenage lust. She saw love and need and protectiveness shining from Max’s expressive eyes.
Liz pulled out of her mother’s hug. “I’m fine, Mom.” She turned to look at Max. “I’m fine.”
Nancy was still looking at Max. “Thank you for what you just—”
“I did it for me, Mrs. Parker.” Max’s quiet voice interrupted her. “She means everything to me.” He looked at her steadily, willing her to see how much he loved Liz.
Hearing a throat being cleared behind him made Max turn around to find Marcus and Chris standing there. They shook their heads indicating that they hadn’t been able to find the gunman, and then looked down immediately as if waiting for their execution. Max didn’t want to get into the whole issue with Liz’s mom watching. “It’s okay, we’ll talk later.” The two shot apologetic looks at Liz and left.
Nancy watched this whole interlude with a small frown, noticing how Liz had immediately went back to Max when the two men appeared. She saw how her daughter pressed herself close to Max, her face in the crook of his neck. Nancy looked at Max. “Maybe you should take her to the hospital. Let them check her for shock…”
Max felt Liz’s nod and he suddenly wondered if she was more upset than he had realized. “Liz?”
Grabbing Max’s hand, Liz finally looked up into his face and let him see how desperately she needed to be alone with him right now. She saw comprehension dawn in his eyes and felt his body tense next to hers.
“I… I think that’s a good idea, Mrs. Parker.” Max was not looking at Nancy, sure that she would be able to see what they were up to in his eyes. He put his arm around Liz and walked her out to the Jeep. “Where…?”
“Can we go to Michael’s apartment?” Liz had one hand clutched in the front of Max’s shirt, trying to breathe normally when all she wanted to do was kiss him and remind herself that they were both still alive.
“Yeah, I guess so. He went to practice with Nick.” Max helped Liz in the Jeep and ran round the front. He tried to drive off slowly so as not to attract any more attention, but sped up as soon as he was out of sight from the Crashdown.
Liz clutched her hands in her lap, trying to keep herself from grabbing Max. She realized that this was probably reaction to the situation she just lived through, but she needed him right now. Needed to have him inside her, celebrating that she was still alive and able to love him.
The Jeep came to a screeching halt in front of Michael’s apartment building and they jumped out and ran inside. As soon the outer door closed behind them, Liz flung herself in Max’s arms. They kissed desperately and Max grabbed her bottom, lifting her up against him. Liz wrapped her legs around his waist and held on as he stumbled blindly along the hallway towards Michael’s front door.
Liz moaned into Max’s mouth, trying to get closer to him. She threaded her hands in his hair and urged his mouth into deeper contact with hers. His body heat scalded her and she grappled to come to terms with her sudden overpowering need for him to make love to her.
Max pressed Liz into Michael’s door as he waved his hand over the lock. He couldn’t stop kissing her. The fear and anger in his body had been replaced by something much more powerful: lust.
They nearly fell into the apartment when the door eventually swung open. Max recovered his balance enough to be able to kick the door shut behind him. Liz was already tearing his shirt out of his pants, needing the contact of his bare skin. He put her down on the kitchen counter, freeing his hands for more important tasks. Like undressing Liz…
Their union was urgent and fast, driven by the intense emotions of the past few hours. They were affirming their love, their life, their commitment and their togetherness with this act.
Liz caught Max’s face between her hands and her words came out hurried between gasping breaths. “I love you… so much. Don’t… ever leave me!”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Max and Nick met during the late afternoon after Max had delivered Liz to her bed at home with strict instructions to take a nap. They drove out of town in silence until Max found a place to stop in the desert, away from the highway.
Nick came right to the point. “We need to have a meeting with you.”
“We?” Max frowned.
“Yes, the council of our group. Some decisions need to be taken and you are the one that has to take them.”
Max felt the now familiar panic threatening to overtake him. “What sort of decisions?”
“Well, what to do about Tess for one. And about our integration into the town. And about the fact that the other alien race have found you and Liz.” Nick stared at Max piercingly. “And the fact that you’re not ready to deal with them yet…”
Five coming up.
Liz had turned away from the door after she threw her guards out on the street. She was quite pleased with herself for being so assertive. Walking to the back of the café, a paralyzing fear unexpectedly doubled her over. She didn’t hear the door jingle behind her or see the man pulling the gun out of his pocket. She only saw her mother standing in back door with Maria and turning white as a sheet. Then she heard Max screaming her name in abject terror before she stumbled to her knees under the crush of Max’s fear. His fear for her, she realized.
The scream startled the gunman into turning around and gave Max the precious seconds he needed to get between Liz and her attacker. The guy stared at Max, now blocking his view of the girl, and dropped the gun to waist height.
Finally recovering from his fear now that Liz was safely behind him, Max felt a white-hot fury taking over. He clenched his fists at his sides, taking a threatening step forward. He could see Marcus and Chris take up position behind the attacker, waiting for his signal. The guy looked over his shoulder and back at Max, understanding dawning on his face and alerting Max to the fact that this was no random attack. This guy knew exactly what the significance of the two men behind him was. The threat to Liz had been an attempt to draw Max out…
The guy suddenly grinned. “So, your weakness has a name!”
Both Max and his guards moved towards the attacker, but he vaulted across a table and stormed out the back, flinging Liz’s mom out of the way roughly. Marcus and Chris ran out the front to follow, but Max was at Liz’s side immediately. “Are you all right?” He picked her up from the floor and hugged her fiercely.
Liz was only now recovering from the onslaught of Max’s feelings. She hadn’t had time to register what she felt during the whole exchange with the stranger due to her concentration on Max. Now she started to shiver in shock. Shock that someone had threatened her life and shock that Max had put himself right in the path of danger for her.
“Liz…” Max was too emotional to get much else out. He didn’t know how, but he knew now that she had not really been in danger. That the gunman would not have pulled the trigger. And that he had accomplished what he had wanted today. To identify Max as the leader of the opposing alien race…
Clinging to Max until her shivering abated, Liz felt her anger at Max grow. How could he have put himself in danger like that?
Max had his face pressed in Liz’s hair, his hands rubbing her back and sides comfortingly. He felt the change in her demeanor immediately. She started to stiffen in his embrace a few seconds before squirming out of his hold. Max was baffled about her actions and the anger he felt coming of her in waves until he saw her glare at him. Then he knew and started grinning. “Liz…” He stopped when he caught a movement from behind Liz. It was her mother.
Maria had helped Nancy to her feet after the gunman had shoved her out of the way during his escape. Now she just stood back and watched the events unfold.
Nancy stared at Max as if she was seeing him for the first time. Her feet were taking her closer to the couple who was now watching her warily. She was trembling. “You… you just…” Liz’s mom could not make her throat work to tell Max that she had seen what he had done for her daughter. Tears were starting to gather in her eyes and Max let Liz go so she could hug her mom. Nancy held Liz close to her, but her gaze remained on the guy she had so easily dismissed as being bad for her daughter. Max locked eyes with her. Nancy saw so much more than she normally acknowledged in his eyes. So much more than mere teenage lust. She saw love and need and protectiveness shining from Max’s expressive eyes.
Liz pulled out of her mother’s hug. “I’m fine, Mom.” She turned to look at Max. “I’m fine.”
Nancy was still looking at Max. “Thank you for what you just—”
“I did it for me, Mrs. Parker.” Max’s quiet voice interrupted her. “She means everything to me.” He looked at her steadily, willing her to see how much he loved Liz.
Hearing a throat being cleared behind him made Max turn around to find Marcus and Chris standing there. They shook their heads indicating that they hadn’t been able to find the gunman, and then looked down immediately as if waiting for their execution. Max didn’t want to get into the whole issue with Liz’s mom watching. “It’s okay, we’ll talk later.” The two shot apologetic looks at Liz and left.
Nancy watched this whole interlude with a small frown, noticing how Liz had immediately went back to Max when the two men appeared. She saw how her daughter pressed herself close to Max, her face in the crook of his neck. Nancy looked at Max. “Maybe you should take her to the hospital. Let them check her for shock…”
Max felt Liz’s nod and he suddenly wondered if she was more upset than he had realized. “Liz?”
Grabbing Max’s hand, Liz finally looked up into his face and let him see how desperately she needed to be alone with him right now. She saw comprehension dawn in his eyes and felt his body tense next to hers.
“I… I think that’s a good idea, Mrs. Parker.” Max was not looking at Nancy, sure that she would be able to see what they were up to in his eyes. He put his arm around Liz and walked her out to the Jeep. “Where…?”
“Can we go to Michael’s apartment?” Liz had one hand clutched in the front of Max’s shirt, trying to breathe normally when all she wanted to do was kiss him and remind herself that they were both still alive.
“Yeah, I guess so. He went to practice with Nick.” Max helped Liz in the Jeep and ran round the front. He tried to drive off slowly so as not to attract any more attention, but sped up as soon as he was out of sight from the Crashdown.
Liz clutched her hands in her lap, trying to keep herself from grabbing Max. She realized that this was probably reaction to the situation she just lived through, but she needed him right now. Needed to have him inside her, celebrating that she was still alive and able to love him.
The Jeep came to a screeching halt in front of Michael’s apartment building and they jumped out and ran inside. As soon the outer door closed behind them, Liz flung herself in Max’s arms. They kissed desperately and Max grabbed her bottom, lifting her up against him. Liz wrapped her legs around his waist and held on as he stumbled blindly along the hallway towards Michael’s front door.
Liz moaned into Max’s mouth, trying to get closer to him. She threaded her hands in his hair and urged his mouth into deeper contact with hers. His body heat scalded her and she grappled to come to terms with her sudden overpowering need for him to make love to her.
Max pressed Liz into Michael’s door as he waved his hand over the lock. He couldn’t stop kissing her. The fear and anger in his body had been replaced by something much more powerful: lust.
They nearly fell into the apartment when the door eventually swung open. Max recovered his balance enough to be able to kick the door shut behind him. Liz was already tearing his shirt out of his pants, needing the contact of his bare skin. He put her down on the kitchen counter, freeing his hands for more important tasks. Like undressing Liz…
Their union was urgent and fast, driven by the intense emotions of the past few hours. They were affirming their love, their life, their commitment and their togetherness with this act.
Liz caught Max’s face between her hands and her words came out hurried between gasping breaths. “I love you… so much. Don’t… ever leave me!”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Max and Nick met during the late afternoon after Max had delivered Liz to her bed at home with strict instructions to take a nap. They drove out of town in silence until Max found a place to stop in the desert, away from the highway.
Nick came right to the point. “We need to have a meeting with you.”
“We?” Max frowned.
“Yes, the council of our group. Some decisions need to be taken and you are the one that has to take them.”
Max felt the now familiar panic threatening to overtake him. “What sort of decisions?”
“Well, what to do about Tess for one. And about our integration into the town. And about the fact that the other alien race have found you and Liz.” Nick stared at Max piercingly. “And the fact that you’re not ready to deal with them yet…”
Five coming up.
Chapter 5
PART 5
Liz woke up to voices in the den of the apartment. She recognised her mom and dad, but the other male voice momentarily confused her.
“…was outside taking out the garbage when the guy practically ran me down. I thought he had robbed the café and ran down the street after him to see if I could see his car or something. When I came back, Nancy told me about the gun. Sheriff, you have to try and find the guy!”
Liz sat up when she heard her dad saying ‘Sheriff’.
Nancy was speaking now. “And he seemed to know Max. Liz’s boyfriend. It was really strange, Sheriff.” Liz’s heart sank. Was her mother STILL suspicious of Max? “But he did save Lizzie’s life…” Nancy sounded unsure of herself.
“Yes, they love each other very much.” Liz sighed in relief. ‘Thank you, Sheriff Valenti!’
Jeff sounded concerned. “There’s something else, Sheriff. These two men have been hanging around the café a lot during the summer. They seemed to be watching Liz and she seems to know them, but the whole thing was just weird to me. What if they were helping this attacker from today?”
At that, Liz jumped up and went to the den. Everybody looked up when she appeared in the door. Liz looked at the Sheriff desperately, trying to convey with her eyes that she needed to speak to him.
Jim caught on immediately. He looked at Liz’s parents. “Would you mind if I talked with Liz alone for a while? I need to get her version of the story.” He took her arm and steered her down the stairs to the café. Finding the café mostly empty before the dinner crowd, he settled them both in a booth. “Tell me what happened, Liz.”
Liz told him everything she knew about the afternoon. They had seen the sheriff a couple of times during the summer after their return from the camp and he had been informed about the existence of the group of survivors. But now she finally told him about her bodyguards, Max being the leader of his race, and finally about the other alien race that is seeking to destroy them all. Jim was increasingly stunned as the story unfolded before him. The magnitude of what these kids had to face was overwhelming and he felt a renewed sense of responsibility towards them. He owed Max Evans the life of his son, and he would never forget that.
Liz felt Max coming closer and hurried into the request she had wanted to make to the Sheriff. Jim looked stunned at first and then grinned. Little Liz Parker truly had spunk. He could see why Max was so smitten with her.
Liz looked to the door even before Max was opening it. “Don’t tell Max about this right now, Sheriff. I’ll talk to him later.”
Max made a beeline for Liz as soon as he came through the door. Everything he heard from Nick this afternoon was threatening to overwhelm him and he needed her calming presence. He slid into the booth with Liz and leant in to kiss her, slowly rubbing his lips over hers. Their eyes were warm when they pulled apart, both of them remembering what happened earlier this afternoon.
Max was leaning in for another kiss when Jim cleared his throat, amused that the two in front of him had become completely oblivious to anyone else. He watched as they pulled apart, startled by the unexpected intrusion. Jim’s eyes narrowed as he saw Max pull his hand away from Liz’s thigh under the table. Was it his imagination or were these two becoming uncomfortably intimate with each other?
“Hey Sheriff. How are you?” Max’s voice was level. Frankly, he just had too much on his mind to worry about Jim Valenti seeing him kiss Liz.
“I’m fine, which is apparently more than I can say for you.”
Max looked down at the table for a few moments, but when he met Valenti’s eyes, his face was full of determination. “Sheriff, I need your help with a few things.” Jim just nodded, trying not to look impressed with the young man in front of him.
Liz nudged Max. “If you let me out, I’ll go get you guys something to drink.” He gave her a small smile and slid out of the booth.
He held out his hand as soon as he was standing and pulled Liz out and upright. Max stopped her from moving away and turned his back on Sheriff Valenti, in effect shielding Liz from him too. Rubbing his hands over her arms and staring deep into her eyes, he asked: “Are you okay? Did you sleep a little bit?”
Liz grinned up at him. “Yes Master!” She sobered up when she saw a shadow flicker across his face. “Are you okay? You look tired and…” She caressed his jaw and felt him sigh and lean into her hand. She had wanted to add ‘worried’, but didn’t want to upset him further. She could feel his tension and wished there was something she could do to help him. So she did the only thing she could think of right now, she pressed herself against him and whispered: “I love you, Max Evans,” in his ear.
Max laced his fingers with hers and held onto her hand when she backed away to go get their drinks. It reminded the Sheriff of the time at the old mine just after they had sprung Max from Pierce’s compound. He would never forget the way these two looked at each other during that terrible day. Like they were each other’s salvation. And how they couldn’t stop touching each other and how reluctantly Max had let her hand go when he told Liz to go into the mine so he could speak to the Sheriff.
Max slid back into the booth after he had watched Liz go. The seat he was in was an unfamiliar one. It faced away from the back of the café where Liz was so he couldn’t stare at Liz. He met the Sheriff’s eyes and took a deep breath. Time to be the leader of a people!
Max and Jim made plans until the dinner crowd started coming in and taking up tables close to them. They had decided that some of Nick’s men will be working for Jim as Deputies (not getting paid, so he didn’t have to explain anything to his superiors) allowing them to act as bodyguards to the teens and their loved ones without too much suspicion. Jim would also start looking into any newcomers in town, trying to find the other aliens that have apparently arrived.
When Liz came back to bring them yet another refill, the sheriff looked at them both. “I think you need to talk to your parents. It will be very difficult to keep you all safe being scattered all over town like this. You need to be in one place as much as possible.”
“No! We can’t…” Max sounded agitated and Liz linked her arm through his, leaning her head on his shoulder. Max’s fear for abandonment when his parents found out what he was, was still ruling him. He never wanted to have anyone, let alone the only parents he has ever known, to look at him in fear and revulsion.
Jim saw that the subject was a touchy one for Max, so he dropped it with a final remark. “Just think about it. I have to go. Tell your parents I’ll start looking for that gunman. And you two be careful!”
Liz kept on hugging Max as the Sheriff left, wondering how she could make him see that his fears were probably unfounded. Anybody that would take in two six year-old kids and raise them as their own, would probably accept their children being ‘not human’. And there was one thing Liz was sure of, Diane Evans loved her children.
Max sighed. “I have to go. Nick asked that I meet with our people’s council tonight… Will you be okay with Tess coming back to town and working with us?” He looked at her probingly. “Because I could—”
Liz stopped him with her fingers on his mouth. “I’m fine with it, Max. You guys need her help and I,” her eyes starting twinkling, “I’ll just keep you too tired to be able to do anything with her…” She giggled as Max’s eyes widened in shock. Shock that was quickly replaced by indignation. Liz kissed his mouth before he could retort. “I’m only kidding! I know you would never…” She kissed him again, softly and gently. Her wonderful, loving and loyal Max. “I have to tell you something, but you have to promise me that you won’t freak out like last time.”
Looking confused, Max mumbled: “Last time?”
“Yeah, uhm…I sort of… I asked the Sheriff for details about some self-defense classes. I think I need some professional help this time…”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz was grinning by the time she got to her new class that night. Max had actually NOT freaked, trusting the judgement of the Sheriff. He had even dropped her off at the class on his way out of town to meet with Nick. However, she now has a training partner by the name of Marcus.
She stared around the motley group of people waiting for the instructor of the class to show up. Everybody looked nervous, making Liz smile. At least she was not the only newcomer here! Then her eye fell on a tiny blonde coming through the door. The latest arrival was gorgeous and she made quite and impression on the male population of the class. She actually looked a little like one of Liz’s favorite TV characters, Buffy. The girl looked around the class until she spotted the empty space next to Liz. She came over and smiled hesitantly at Liz. “Hi, I’m Sarah. Do you mind if I use this space?”
Liz liked her immediately. “Sure! I’m Liz.” She caught Marcus’ warning frown over Sarah shoulder, but decided to ignore him. “Are you new in town? I haven’t seen you around before.”
“Yeah, I just moved here with… with my boyfriend a few days ago.” Sarah looked away from Liz, but not before Liz had caught her frightened look.
Liz had been involved with Max for far too long to not wonder about the new girl and her barely concealed fear. She wondered if it was a coincidence that Sarah had shown up around the same time the other alien was trying to find Max? Liz glanced at her again. Well, she looked harmless enough…
I'll be back later with the rest.
Liz woke up to voices in the den of the apartment. She recognised her mom and dad, but the other male voice momentarily confused her.
“…was outside taking out the garbage when the guy practically ran me down. I thought he had robbed the café and ran down the street after him to see if I could see his car or something. When I came back, Nancy told me about the gun. Sheriff, you have to try and find the guy!”
Liz sat up when she heard her dad saying ‘Sheriff’.
Nancy was speaking now. “And he seemed to know Max. Liz’s boyfriend. It was really strange, Sheriff.” Liz’s heart sank. Was her mother STILL suspicious of Max? “But he did save Lizzie’s life…” Nancy sounded unsure of herself.
“Yes, they love each other very much.” Liz sighed in relief. ‘Thank you, Sheriff Valenti!’
Jeff sounded concerned. “There’s something else, Sheriff. These two men have been hanging around the café a lot during the summer. They seemed to be watching Liz and she seems to know them, but the whole thing was just weird to me. What if they were helping this attacker from today?”
At that, Liz jumped up and went to the den. Everybody looked up when she appeared in the door. Liz looked at the Sheriff desperately, trying to convey with her eyes that she needed to speak to him.
Jim caught on immediately. He looked at Liz’s parents. “Would you mind if I talked with Liz alone for a while? I need to get her version of the story.” He took her arm and steered her down the stairs to the café. Finding the café mostly empty before the dinner crowd, he settled them both in a booth. “Tell me what happened, Liz.”
Liz told him everything she knew about the afternoon. They had seen the sheriff a couple of times during the summer after their return from the camp and he had been informed about the existence of the group of survivors. But now she finally told him about her bodyguards, Max being the leader of his race, and finally about the other alien race that is seeking to destroy them all. Jim was increasingly stunned as the story unfolded before him. The magnitude of what these kids had to face was overwhelming and he felt a renewed sense of responsibility towards them. He owed Max Evans the life of his son, and he would never forget that.
Liz felt Max coming closer and hurried into the request she had wanted to make to the Sheriff. Jim looked stunned at first and then grinned. Little Liz Parker truly had spunk. He could see why Max was so smitten with her.
Liz looked to the door even before Max was opening it. “Don’t tell Max about this right now, Sheriff. I’ll talk to him later.”
Max made a beeline for Liz as soon as he came through the door. Everything he heard from Nick this afternoon was threatening to overwhelm him and he needed her calming presence. He slid into the booth with Liz and leant in to kiss her, slowly rubbing his lips over hers. Their eyes were warm when they pulled apart, both of them remembering what happened earlier this afternoon.
Max was leaning in for another kiss when Jim cleared his throat, amused that the two in front of him had become completely oblivious to anyone else. He watched as they pulled apart, startled by the unexpected intrusion. Jim’s eyes narrowed as he saw Max pull his hand away from Liz’s thigh under the table. Was it his imagination or were these two becoming uncomfortably intimate with each other?
“Hey Sheriff. How are you?” Max’s voice was level. Frankly, he just had too much on his mind to worry about Jim Valenti seeing him kiss Liz.
“I’m fine, which is apparently more than I can say for you.”
Max looked down at the table for a few moments, but when he met Valenti’s eyes, his face was full of determination. “Sheriff, I need your help with a few things.” Jim just nodded, trying not to look impressed with the young man in front of him.
Liz nudged Max. “If you let me out, I’ll go get you guys something to drink.” He gave her a small smile and slid out of the booth.
He held out his hand as soon as he was standing and pulled Liz out and upright. Max stopped her from moving away and turned his back on Sheriff Valenti, in effect shielding Liz from him too. Rubbing his hands over her arms and staring deep into her eyes, he asked: “Are you okay? Did you sleep a little bit?”
Liz grinned up at him. “Yes Master!” She sobered up when she saw a shadow flicker across his face. “Are you okay? You look tired and…” She caressed his jaw and felt him sigh and lean into her hand. She had wanted to add ‘worried’, but didn’t want to upset him further. She could feel his tension and wished there was something she could do to help him. So she did the only thing she could think of right now, she pressed herself against him and whispered: “I love you, Max Evans,” in his ear.
Max laced his fingers with hers and held onto her hand when she backed away to go get their drinks. It reminded the Sheriff of the time at the old mine just after they had sprung Max from Pierce’s compound. He would never forget the way these two looked at each other during that terrible day. Like they were each other’s salvation. And how they couldn’t stop touching each other and how reluctantly Max had let her hand go when he told Liz to go into the mine so he could speak to the Sheriff.
Max slid back into the booth after he had watched Liz go. The seat he was in was an unfamiliar one. It faced away from the back of the café where Liz was so he couldn’t stare at Liz. He met the Sheriff’s eyes and took a deep breath. Time to be the leader of a people!
Max and Jim made plans until the dinner crowd started coming in and taking up tables close to them. They had decided that some of Nick’s men will be working for Jim as Deputies (not getting paid, so he didn’t have to explain anything to his superiors) allowing them to act as bodyguards to the teens and their loved ones without too much suspicion. Jim would also start looking into any newcomers in town, trying to find the other aliens that have apparently arrived.
When Liz came back to bring them yet another refill, the sheriff looked at them both. “I think you need to talk to your parents. It will be very difficult to keep you all safe being scattered all over town like this. You need to be in one place as much as possible.”
“No! We can’t…” Max sounded agitated and Liz linked her arm through his, leaning her head on his shoulder. Max’s fear for abandonment when his parents found out what he was, was still ruling him. He never wanted to have anyone, let alone the only parents he has ever known, to look at him in fear and revulsion.
Jim saw that the subject was a touchy one for Max, so he dropped it with a final remark. “Just think about it. I have to go. Tell your parents I’ll start looking for that gunman. And you two be careful!”
Liz kept on hugging Max as the Sheriff left, wondering how she could make him see that his fears were probably unfounded. Anybody that would take in two six year-old kids and raise them as their own, would probably accept their children being ‘not human’. And there was one thing Liz was sure of, Diane Evans loved her children.
Max sighed. “I have to go. Nick asked that I meet with our people’s council tonight… Will you be okay with Tess coming back to town and working with us?” He looked at her probingly. “Because I could—”
Liz stopped him with her fingers on his mouth. “I’m fine with it, Max. You guys need her help and I,” her eyes starting twinkling, “I’ll just keep you too tired to be able to do anything with her…” She giggled as Max’s eyes widened in shock. Shock that was quickly replaced by indignation. Liz kissed his mouth before he could retort. “I’m only kidding! I know you would never…” She kissed him again, softly and gently. Her wonderful, loving and loyal Max. “I have to tell you something, but you have to promise me that you won’t freak out like last time.”
Looking confused, Max mumbled: “Last time?”
“Yeah, uhm…I sort of… I asked the Sheriff for details about some self-defense classes. I think I need some professional help this time…”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz was grinning by the time she got to her new class that night. Max had actually NOT freaked, trusting the judgement of the Sheriff. He had even dropped her off at the class on his way out of town to meet with Nick. However, she now has a training partner by the name of Marcus.
She stared around the motley group of people waiting for the instructor of the class to show up. Everybody looked nervous, making Liz smile. At least she was not the only newcomer here! Then her eye fell on a tiny blonde coming through the door. The latest arrival was gorgeous and she made quite and impression on the male population of the class. She actually looked a little like one of Liz’s favorite TV characters, Buffy. The girl looked around the class until she spotted the empty space next to Liz. She came over and smiled hesitantly at Liz. “Hi, I’m Sarah. Do you mind if I use this space?”
Liz liked her immediately. “Sure! I’m Liz.” She caught Marcus’ warning frown over Sarah shoulder, but decided to ignore him. “Are you new in town? I haven’t seen you around before.”
“Yeah, I just moved here with… with my boyfriend a few days ago.” Sarah looked away from Liz, but not before Liz had caught her frightened look.
Liz had been involved with Max for far too long to not wonder about the new girl and her barely concealed fear. She wondered if it was a coincidence that Sarah had shown up around the same time the other alien was trying to find Max? Liz glanced at her again. Well, she looked harmless enough…
I'll be back later with the rest.
FON 6
PART 6
Max was tired when he drove back to Roswell after his meeting with the Council. They had looked to him for answers and decisions and he tried to do it all justice. They needed to get us much as possible in place before school started in three weeks.
He rubbed his face wearily and glanced at Tess in the seat next to him. She was staring out the window, her face turned away from him. He was giving her a ride home and she would stay in the house Nacedo was still renting until the end of summer. Then they would have to get her a new place to stay or the school will get suspicious. She wasn’t very friendly towards him, but he could understand that. Everything she had ever believed to be her future is gone now. He felt a little sorry for her, but the image of Liz lying in that bed and not waking up because of her was still fresh in his memory.
His attention drifted to other more pressing problems. Maybe he could graduate sooner. He knew he could probably use his powers to process all the information he needed to study faster, but he never tried it fearing it would look suspicious. So it had always been a struggle to be a good student, but not one so good that he attracted attention. But if he managed to graduate sooner, he could be with Liz sooner. And he would have greater control over his own affairs without dragging his parents into the whole mess that was his life.
Max’s throat constricted at the thought that his parents would one day find out what he was. He didn’t think he could handle that on top of everything else right now. Maybe one day when he was older and married to Liz… Liz. If it wasn’t for her unconditional love, his life would have been unbearable for him right now. But the hope of him and Liz being together forever in the future, kept him going through the motions of being the famed alien leader that he supposedly was.
After dropping Tess off at her house, he turned the Jeep towards his home. His watch told him it was close to midnight and he had to ignore the urgent calls from his heart and his body to go to Liz. They both needed sleep and could do without the wrath of their parents. It was bad enough that they had taken such a wild chance this afternoon in Michael’s apartment, but he kept telling himself that it was extraordinary circumstances and that it would not happen again. They did not need to get caught in a situation like that! The only problem was, he has always had trouble keeping his hands off of Liz Parker and now that they were intimate on a regular basis, he was even worse. It didn’t help much that Liz apparently had the same problem with him. His heart sped up at the memory of the way she had looked at him this afternoon. So much need and longing had been in her beautiful eyes that she made him weak with desire. He smiled. His Liz…
~*~*~*~*~*~
When Marcus and Liz came out of the class, tired but satisfied, they saw Sarah being driven off on a motorcycle. Liz wondered about the quiet girl again. She seemed to be almost desperate to learn some of the techniques in the class and Liz was starting to suspect it had something to do with her boyfriend. Maybe he was hurting her… Liz shuddered. She couldn’t even contemplate being in an abusive relationship. Not when her boyfriend was the world’s gentlest guy!
Marcus waited until he was sure she was safely in her room before he waved to the guy on night duty in front of the Crashdown. His muscles were stiff already and he grimly thought that guarding Liz Parker was going to be the death of him. But hey, he was just glad to still be alive and not in one of their prison spheres after what happened with the gunman this afternoon. Max had been surprisingly calm about the whole thing for which both Marcus and Chris were eternally grateful. Its not like they haven’t seen Max in full flight while something was wrong with his Liz!
He needed to get home and start preparing for his move to the little town of Roswell NM with HIS mate. At least he would get to live in a real house for a change, but he wasn’t too sure about working for the Sheriff of the town. Max trusted the Sheriff, but it was still a big leap for a guy who spent his whole life in a camp away from human contact. He smiled when he remembered the concentration and determination with which Liz had taken part in the class just now. If the other humans were like Liz Parker, then he was prepared to take the chance.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Jeff and Nancy looked up as Liz came through the door of the apartment. Their eyes widened in surprise at her attire. “Were you at the gym?” Nancy was clearly stunned at the possibility.
Shaking her head, Liz grinned. “No, I’m taking self-defense classes with someone from the Sheriff’s office!”
This seemed to surprise her parents even more. Jeff and Nancy looked at each other. “Lizzie, could you sit down so we can talk for a moment?” Jeff’s gentle voice was tentative. This was his only darling daughter and he was really scared about what has been going on in her life.
Liz bit her lip, fear of what they were going to say taking hold of her. Please let them not forbid me to see Max! She perched gingerly on the edge of the chair that faced the couch her parents were sitting on.
Her father looked uncomfortable before he started speaking. “We just need to know what is going on in your life right now.”
“What do you mean, Dad?” Her voice sounded amazingly calm to her own ears.
“We mean that there are strange things happening ever since the beginning of the summer and we need to know if… if there is something we should worry about.” Her mother was looking at her intently. “It’s… it’s not drugs or something, is it?”
Liz felt her mouth drop open. “Drugs! No! How could you even think that?”
Her parents were shifting around in their seats, clearly not sure how to handle the whole conversation. “What about Max? Is he into anything illegal?”
“Mom, he saved my life today. He would never do anything that would harm me. You have to believe that!”
“But why did it look like that man that attacked you today knew him? And who were those two men that were hanging around the café all summer and that helped Max today?” Her mother was getting agitated.
Liz gripped the armrests of the chair, fighting for calm. “Mom, I don’t know who that man was. And the two men that came in probably know Max from his work at the UFO museum. It’s nothing sinister.” Liz knew she was floundering and didn’t know how to get out of this situation without doing more harm to Max’s reputation.
“I think we need to talk with the Evans’—”
“Mom!”
“Liz, you’re our little girl and we love you. Surely you can understand that we worry about you being involved with Max? With any boy for that matter?” Her mother was sounding firm now.
Liz realized that fighting against this now would only cement her parents’ suspicions that something weird was going on with Max. So she merely nodded with downcast eyes.
Her mother’s voice was soft when she continued. “I saw how much he cares about you today. We just want to be sure, okay?”
Liz nodded again. Tears were starting to gather in her eyes. The day had been long and tiring. She needed Max. She needed his arms and his soft voice telling her that she is safe and loved. Her phone started ringing in her room, giving her the chance to escape. She knew it was Max before she even picked up.
“Hi Max.” Her voice was thick with unshed tears.
“Hey love. Are you okay? I felt… What’s wrong?” His voice was filled with concern.
“I’m just missing you… Sorry for being so pathetic. How are you?” Liz heard the weariness in his voice and she didn’t want to add to his burden tonight. They could talk about her parents tomorrow.
He took a deep breath. “Tired. I just… I just needed to hear your voice.”
Liz wanted to burst into tears. She could feel Max hanging onto normalcy like a drowning man and she desperately wanted to be able to hold him and help him gain his strength back. “I love you, Max. I’ll be here whenever you need me.”
She heard his intake of breath before he said quietly. “You don’t know how much it means to hear you say that.”
Liz forced a smile into her voice. “Do you think that maybe we could have one of those shared dreams of ours tonight? One of those in which I don’t have to worry about you still respecting me in the morning?”
Max’s soft chuckle warmed her heart. “We can definitely try!”
~*~*~*~*~*~
On the other side of town, another girl was talking to her soulmate. “I met her by accident. Liz was in my class tonight…”
Part 7 next.
Max was tired when he drove back to Roswell after his meeting with the Council. They had looked to him for answers and decisions and he tried to do it all justice. They needed to get us much as possible in place before school started in three weeks.
He rubbed his face wearily and glanced at Tess in the seat next to him. She was staring out the window, her face turned away from him. He was giving her a ride home and she would stay in the house Nacedo was still renting until the end of summer. Then they would have to get her a new place to stay or the school will get suspicious. She wasn’t very friendly towards him, but he could understand that. Everything she had ever believed to be her future is gone now. He felt a little sorry for her, but the image of Liz lying in that bed and not waking up because of her was still fresh in his memory.
His attention drifted to other more pressing problems. Maybe he could graduate sooner. He knew he could probably use his powers to process all the information he needed to study faster, but he never tried it fearing it would look suspicious. So it had always been a struggle to be a good student, but not one so good that he attracted attention. But if he managed to graduate sooner, he could be with Liz sooner. And he would have greater control over his own affairs without dragging his parents into the whole mess that was his life.
Max’s throat constricted at the thought that his parents would one day find out what he was. He didn’t think he could handle that on top of everything else right now. Maybe one day when he was older and married to Liz… Liz. If it wasn’t for her unconditional love, his life would have been unbearable for him right now. But the hope of him and Liz being together forever in the future, kept him going through the motions of being the famed alien leader that he supposedly was.
After dropping Tess off at her house, he turned the Jeep towards his home. His watch told him it was close to midnight and he had to ignore the urgent calls from his heart and his body to go to Liz. They both needed sleep and could do without the wrath of their parents. It was bad enough that they had taken such a wild chance this afternoon in Michael’s apartment, but he kept telling himself that it was extraordinary circumstances and that it would not happen again. They did not need to get caught in a situation like that! The only problem was, he has always had trouble keeping his hands off of Liz Parker and now that they were intimate on a regular basis, he was even worse. It didn’t help much that Liz apparently had the same problem with him. His heart sped up at the memory of the way she had looked at him this afternoon. So much need and longing had been in her beautiful eyes that she made him weak with desire. He smiled. His Liz…
~*~*~*~*~*~
When Marcus and Liz came out of the class, tired but satisfied, they saw Sarah being driven off on a motorcycle. Liz wondered about the quiet girl again. She seemed to be almost desperate to learn some of the techniques in the class and Liz was starting to suspect it had something to do with her boyfriend. Maybe he was hurting her… Liz shuddered. She couldn’t even contemplate being in an abusive relationship. Not when her boyfriend was the world’s gentlest guy!
Marcus waited until he was sure she was safely in her room before he waved to the guy on night duty in front of the Crashdown. His muscles were stiff already and he grimly thought that guarding Liz Parker was going to be the death of him. But hey, he was just glad to still be alive and not in one of their prison spheres after what happened with the gunman this afternoon. Max had been surprisingly calm about the whole thing for which both Marcus and Chris were eternally grateful. Its not like they haven’t seen Max in full flight while something was wrong with his Liz!
He needed to get home and start preparing for his move to the little town of Roswell NM with HIS mate. At least he would get to live in a real house for a change, but he wasn’t too sure about working for the Sheriff of the town. Max trusted the Sheriff, but it was still a big leap for a guy who spent his whole life in a camp away from human contact. He smiled when he remembered the concentration and determination with which Liz had taken part in the class just now. If the other humans were like Liz Parker, then he was prepared to take the chance.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Jeff and Nancy looked up as Liz came through the door of the apartment. Their eyes widened in surprise at her attire. “Were you at the gym?” Nancy was clearly stunned at the possibility.
Shaking her head, Liz grinned. “No, I’m taking self-defense classes with someone from the Sheriff’s office!”
This seemed to surprise her parents even more. Jeff and Nancy looked at each other. “Lizzie, could you sit down so we can talk for a moment?” Jeff’s gentle voice was tentative. This was his only darling daughter and he was really scared about what has been going on in her life.
Liz bit her lip, fear of what they were going to say taking hold of her. Please let them not forbid me to see Max! She perched gingerly on the edge of the chair that faced the couch her parents were sitting on.
Her father looked uncomfortable before he started speaking. “We just need to know what is going on in your life right now.”
“What do you mean, Dad?” Her voice sounded amazingly calm to her own ears.
“We mean that there are strange things happening ever since the beginning of the summer and we need to know if… if there is something we should worry about.” Her mother was looking at her intently. “It’s… it’s not drugs or something, is it?”
Liz felt her mouth drop open. “Drugs! No! How could you even think that?”
Her parents were shifting around in their seats, clearly not sure how to handle the whole conversation. “What about Max? Is he into anything illegal?”
“Mom, he saved my life today. He would never do anything that would harm me. You have to believe that!”
“But why did it look like that man that attacked you today knew him? And who were those two men that were hanging around the café all summer and that helped Max today?” Her mother was getting agitated.
Liz gripped the armrests of the chair, fighting for calm. “Mom, I don’t know who that man was. And the two men that came in probably know Max from his work at the UFO museum. It’s nothing sinister.” Liz knew she was floundering and didn’t know how to get out of this situation without doing more harm to Max’s reputation.
“I think we need to talk with the Evans’—”
“Mom!”
“Liz, you’re our little girl and we love you. Surely you can understand that we worry about you being involved with Max? With any boy for that matter?” Her mother was sounding firm now.
Liz realized that fighting against this now would only cement her parents’ suspicions that something weird was going on with Max. So she merely nodded with downcast eyes.
Her mother’s voice was soft when she continued. “I saw how much he cares about you today. We just want to be sure, okay?”
Liz nodded again. Tears were starting to gather in her eyes. The day had been long and tiring. She needed Max. She needed his arms and his soft voice telling her that she is safe and loved. Her phone started ringing in her room, giving her the chance to escape. She knew it was Max before she even picked up.
“Hi Max.” Her voice was thick with unshed tears.
“Hey love. Are you okay? I felt… What’s wrong?” His voice was filled with concern.
“I’m just missing you… Sorry for being so pathetic. How are you?” Liz heard the weariness in his voice and she didn’t want to add to his burden tonight. They could talk about her parents tomorrow.
He took a deep breath. “Tired. I just… I just needed to hear your voice.”
Liz wanted to burst into tears. She could feel Max hanging onto normalcy like a drowning man and she desperately wanted to be able to hold him and help him gain his strength back. “I love you, Max. I’ll be here whenever you need me.”
She heard his intake of breath before he said quietly. “You don’t know how much it means to hear you say that.”
Liz forced a smile into her voice. “Do you think that maybe we could have one of those shared dreams of ours tonight? One of those in which I don’t have to worry about you still respecting me in the morning?”
Max’s soft chuckle warmed her heart. “We can definitely try!”
~*~*~*~*~*~
On the other side of town, another girl was talking to her soulmate. “I met her by accident. Liz was in my class tonight…”
Part 7 next.
FON 7
PART 7
Max was putting the phone down when Izzy came into his room. “How’s Liz? I heard about the gunman from Maria.”
He ran his hands through his hair before answering. “She’s okay. I got there before he could do anything.” His voice was tired when he continued. “He was looking for me, Iz. How did he know to come look for me at the Crashdown? How did he know about Liz?”
Isabel sat down next to Max and looked at him worriedly. Her brother seemed… despondent. “Max…” She rubbed her hand over his shoulder, feeling the tension knotting his muscles. “Is there anything I can do?”
Yes, Max thought, help me be normal. But that wasn’t in Isabel’s power. “Just… be careful, okay. They know we’re in Roswell and they’re bound to find all of us sooner or later.”
“Don’t worry about us. I’m spending most of my day in Alex’s bedroom—” She swatted his shoulder when she saw his look. “And no! It’s not what you think! Not that you’d be one to talk! But we are doing research on the Internet to try and see if we can’t find something on these other aliens. So far, there isn’t much to find.” She took a deep breath before plunging ahead. “But we did find a mention of the possibility that a waitress was shot and healed at the Crashdown in one of the recent UFO Today newsletters…”
Max’s head snapped up. “What!”
“Yeah, uhm… We saw it today. It was printed about three weeks ago. There were no names in the article about who was shot and who did the healing. They didn’t even ID their source.”
“So that’s how they found us…” He clenched his hands into fists. Will the one act that forever changed his life for the better, also remain the one thing that will haunt him and every one close to him for the rest of his life? He jumped up from the bed. “There must be some other way for us to solve this thing between the two alien races! I refuse to accept that we will be hunted for the rest of our lives. That Liz and I will never have a…” he swallowed, “… a family.”
Isabel inhaled sharply when she saw the torment that flashed in Max’s eyes. Max had so many dreams that kept getting sacrificed to the greater good. Sure, they all had dreams, but theirs were new and mostly unformed. Max, on the other hand, has had years in which to build up the dream of being married to the girl he had always loved. About having a house and children. And about being normal.
“Max, we will work this out. Together.” Isabel hugged her brother. “Why don’t you go see Liz? I’ll cover for you with mom and dad.”
Max shot her a small smile. “Thanks, Iz, but her parents will kill me.” They’ll kill me anyway if they knew what I did with their daughter this afternoon! “I’ll see her early tomorrow.”
Isabel smiled at him knowingly. “You hate this, don’t you? Not telling everyone that you two are… well, basically married now.”
“I hate a lot more than that. I hate that I can’t be with her every second of the day. I hate that she is in danger because I love her. I hate that I have to rely on other people to help keep her safe. I hate that we will apparently never have a normal life.” Max turned to find his sister watching him with a concerned expression. “But I will still take all this over my life before Liz was a part of it any day.”
“Max.” Isabel’s voice reflected her concern. She had never seen Max so… weary. It was like he was pulling himself through each passing second with the hope that it all would lead to a normal life with Liz in the end. Like that was the only thing that kept him going.
Turning away to stare up at the V-formation in the stars, Max shoved his hands in his pockets. “It’s okay, Iz. Sleep well.”
Isabel stared at his back for a few moments, before leaving the room.
Max heard her startled gasp from right outside his door. He swung around to find that one of his recurring nightmares had apparently come true. His mom was filling the doorway, her eyes full of questions.
“Max? What is going on here?” Diane’s voice was uncertain, trying to make sense of what she just heard.
Isabel saw Max’s helpless and terrified look and realized her brother was inches away from coming undone. On top of all the events of the day, he now faced his second biggest fear. Apart from losing Liz forever, Max was most afraid that their mother would find out what they were and stop loving them. In contrast with Max, Isabel held on to the hope that her mother would continue to love her unconditionally, in spite of what she was. “What did you hear, Mom?” Isabel’s voice held a false tone of cheerfulness.
“That… that Max and Liz are… married? That she is in danger? I… I don’t understand?” Diane was floundering, her mind filled with possibilities of the meaning of what she had overheard. She was staring at Max, who had gone completely motionless. Her son’s beautiful eyes were filled with terror. Terror directed at her. Diane couldn’t stand that look in his eyes and she rushed forward, pulling him into an embrace.
“Whatever it is, Max, I’ll understand!” She pulled away slightly, asking the question that had immediately popped into her mind when she had heard Max and Isabel talking. “Is… is Liz pregnant?” Her heart started beating again when she saw Max’s complete shock at her question.
“No Mom! Liz is not pregnant!” Isabel spoke up for her brother who still seemed unable to get his throat to work. “You know Max, he worries about everything! And there was this gunman at the café this afternoon that tried to shoot Liz. Max is just overreacting about the whole thing.” Isabel realized she was babbling, but she couldn’t stop herself. “That’s why we love Max, he overreacts about everything! Especially about Liz…” She kicked herself at the last statement, knowing it had brought their mother’s attention back to the issue at hand: Max and Liz.
“I heard about the incident at the café and that Liz is okay… Then what’s this about marriage?”
When he finally spoke up, Max’s voice was low and full of feeling. “I’ve asked Liz to marry me.” He locked gazes with a speechless Diane. “She’s said yes.”
Diane walked towards Max’s bed on unsteady legs. “Honey, you are seventeen. How can you two be thinking of marriage? I mean, I know you love her very much…”
“Mom, I have never loved anyone else in my life. Only always Liz. I know what I want. What I need. Its Liz.”
Staring up at her son, Diane Evans again saw a grown man. She suddenly realized that she couldn’t remember when Max had ever been a boy. It seemed that he had moved from being a child to a man without becoming a boy in between. He had become a young man without her noticing. With this realization, the concern about what exactly was happening between Max and Liz reared its head again. “I can see that you’re serious about Liz. Are you two… are you having sex?”
Max looked at her steadily. This was one lie he wasn’t prepared to continue with. “Yes.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz couldn’t sleep. Something was going on with Max, she could feel it. His emotions were like a roller-coaster and she guessed something was happening with his parents or Izzy. She desperately wanted to call him, but had to wait until she was sure she wouldn’t be interrupting anything. Once again she wished she could be with him whenever he needed her. Instead she could only close her eyes and concentrate on how much she loved him and hope he would feel it. My Max. My everything.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Both Diane and Isabel stared at Max open-mouthed after his confession. Isabel was sure Max had finally lost it. Was he insane for admitting that to her mother? Her mom would probably take the news of them being aliens better than what she had just heard!
Max was watching Diane with something akin to contentment on his face. It felt good to finally be honest with her about something. His mom, on the other hand, seemed unable to form a coherent response and various expressions flitted across her face: shock, concern, admiration, disappointment and finally, relief.
“I’m glad you felt you could tell me this, Max. I don’t think you are doing the right thing, but at least now we can talk about it.” Diane was trying very hard to sound reasonable so she didn’t send Max back into that aloof world where he had seemed to live before Liz Parker came into his life. “Do her parents know about this?”
With one sentence, Diane wiped out all the positive things Max had been feeling after finally revealing one of his many secrets to his mother. He suddenly realized that his rash confession would probably lead to the end of his relationship with Liz if her parents ever found out. Slowly sinking down on his chair, Max’s eyes pleaded with his mother not to take away the one thing in his life that made sense. Liz Parker.
Part 8 next.
Max was putting the phone down when Izzy came into his room. “How’s Liz? I heard about the gunman from Maria.”
He ran his hands through his hair before answering. “She’s okay. I got there before he could do anything.” His voice was tired when he continued. “He was looking for me, Iz. How did he know to come look for me at the Crashdown? How did he know about Liz?”
Isabel sat down next to Max and looked at him worriedly. Her brother seemed… despondent. “Max…” She rubbed her hand over his shoulder, feeling the tension knotting his muscles. “Is there anything I can do?”
Yes, Max thought, help me be normal. But that wasn’t in Isabel’s power. “Just… be careful, okay. They know we’re in Roswell and they’re bound to find all of us sooner or later.”
“Don’t worry about us. I’m spending most of my day in Alex’s bedroom—” She swatted his shoulder when she saw his look. “And no! It’s not what you think! Not that you’d be one to talk! But we are doing research on the Internet to try and see if we can’t find something on these other aliens. So far, there isn’t much to find.” She took a deep breath before plunging ahead. “But we did find a mention of the possibility that a waitress was shot and healed at the Crashdown in one of the recent UFO Today newsletters…”
Max’s head snapped up. “What!”
“Yeah, uhm… We saw it today. It was printed about three weeks ago. There were no names in the article about who was shot and who did the healing. They didn’t even ID their source.”
“So that’s how they found us…” He clenched his hands into fists. Will the one act that forever changed his life for the better, also remain the one thing that will haunt him and every one close to him for the rest of his life? He jumped up from the bed. “There must be some other way for us to solve this thing between the two alien races! I refuse to accept that we will be hunted for the rest of our lives. That Liz and I will never have a…” he swallowed, “… a family.”
Isabel inhaled sharply when she saw the torment that flashed in Max’s eyes. Max had so many dreams that kept getting sacrificed to the greater good. Sure, they all had dreams, but theirs were new and mostly unformed. Max, on the other hand, has had years in which to build up the dream of being married to the girl he had always loved. About having a house and children. And about being normal.
“Max, we will work this out. Together.” Isabel hugged her brother. “Why don’t you go see Liz? I’ll cover for you with mom and dad.”
Max shot her a small smile. “Thanks, Iz, but her parents will kill me.” They’ll kill me anyway if they knew what I did with their daughter this afternoon! “I’ll see her early tomorrow.”
Isabel smiled at him knowingly. “You hate this, don’t you? Not telling everyone that you two are… well, basically married now.”
“I hate a lot more than that. I hate that I can’t be with her every second of the day. I hate that she is in danger because I love her. I hate that I have to rely on other people to help keep her safe. I hate that we will apparently never have a normal life.” Max turned to find his sister watching him with a concerned expression. “But I will still take all this over my life before Liz was a part of it any day.”
“Max.” Isabel’s voice reflected her concern. She had never seen Max so… weary. It was like he was pulling himself through each passing second with the hope that it all would lead to a normal life with Liz in the end. Like that was the only thing that kept him going.
Turning away to stare up at the V-formation in the stars, Max shoved his hands in his pockets. “It’s okay, Iz. Sleep well.”
Isabel stared at his back for a few moments, before leaving the room.
Max heard her startled gasp from right outside his door. He swung around to find that one of his recurring nightmares had apparently come true. His mom was filling the doorway, her eyes full of questions.
“Max? What is going on here?” Diane’s voice was uncertain, trying to make sense of what she just heard.
Isabel saw Max’s helpless and terrified look and realized her brother was inches away from coming undone. On top of all the events of the day, he now faced his second biggest fear. Apart from losing Liz forever, Max was most afraid that their mother would find out what they were and stop loving them. In contrast with Max, Isabel held on to the hope that her mother would continue to love her unconditionally, in spite of what she was. “What did you hear, Mom?” Isabel’s voice held a false tone of cheerfulness.
“That… that Max and Liz are… married? That she is in danger? I… I don’t understand?” Diane was floundering, her mind filled with possibilities of the meaning of what she had overheard. She was staring at Max, who had gone completely motionless. Her son’s beautiful eyes were filled with terror. Terror directed at her. Diane couldn’t stand that look in his eyes and she rushed forward, pulling him into an embrace.
“Whatever it is, Max, I’ll understand!” She pulled away slightly, asking the question that had immediately popped into her mind when she had heard Max and Isabel talking. “Is… is Liz pregnant?” Her heart started beating again when she saw Max’s complete shock at her question.
“No Mom! Liz is not pregnant!” Isabel spoke up for her brother who still seemed unable to get his throat to work. “You know Max, he worries about everything! And there was this gunman at the café this afternoon that tried to shoot Liz. Max is just overreacting about the whole thing.” Isabel realized she was babbling, but she couldn’t stop herself. “That’s why we love Max, he overreacts about everything! Especially about Liz…” She kicked herself at the last statement, knowing it had brought their mother’s attention back to the issue at hand: Max and Liz.
“I heard about the incident at the café and that Liz is okay… Then what’s this about marriage?”
When he finally spoke up, Max’s voice was low and full of feeling. “I’ve asked Liz to marry me.” He locked gazes with a speechless Diane. “She’s said yes.”
Diane walked towards Max’s bed on unsteady legs. “Honey, you are seventeen. How can you two be thinking of marriage? I mean, I know you love her very much…”
“Mom, I have never loved anyone else in my life. Only always Liz. I know what I want. What I need. Its Liz.”
Staring up at her son, Diane Evans again saw a grown man. She suddenly realized that she couldn’t remember when Max had ever been a boy. It seemed that he had moved from being a child to a man without becoming a boy in between. He had become a young man without her noticing. With this realization, the concern about what exactly was happening between Max and Liz reared its head again. “I can see that you’re serious about Liz. Are you two… are you having sex?”
Max looked at her steadily. This was one lie he wasn’t prepared to continue with. “Yes.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Liz couldn’t sleep. Something was going on with Max, she could feel it. His emotions were like a roller-coaster and she guessed something was happening with his parents or Izzy. She desperately wanted to call him, but had to wait until she was sure she wouldn’t be interrupting anything. Once again she wished she could be with him whenever he needed her. Instead she could only close her eyes and concentrate on how much she loved him and hope he would feel it. My Max. My everything.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Both Diane and Isabel stared at Max open-mouthed after his confession. Isabel was sure Max had finally lost it. Was he insane for admitting that to her mother? Her mom would probably take the news of them being aliens better than what she had just heard!
Max was watching Diane with something akin to contentment on his face. It felt good to finally be honest with her about something. His mom, on the other hand, seemed unable to form a coherent response and various expressions flitted across her face: shock, concern, admiration, disappointment and finally, relief.
“I’m glad you felt you could tell me this, Max. I don’t think you are doing the right thing, but at least now we can talk about it.” Diane was trying very hard to sound reasonable so she didn’t send Max back into that aloof world where he had seemed to live before Liz Parker came into his life. “Do her parents know about this?”
With one sentence, Diane wiped out all the positive things Max had been feeling after finally revealing one of his many secrets to his mother. He suddenly realized that his rash confession would probably lead to the end of his relationship with Liz if her parents ever found out. Slowly sinking down on his chair, Max’s eyes pleaded with his mother not to take away the one thing in his life that made sense. Liz Parker.
Part 8 next.
FON 8
PART 8
Isabel backed slowly out of Max’s room, her eyes fixed on her mother and brother who were still staring at each other silently. Once in the hallway, she practically ran to her room and called Maria’s cell phone. As expected, Maria was with Michael…
“Michael, you need to come to our house right now. Max is… he needs us!” The phone went dead in her ear and she knew Michael had heard the worry in her voice. Ever since that day when he killed Pierce and worked through the intense guilt that came with that, Michael had slowly been accepting his role as the soldier of the group.
Creeping silently back to Max’s room, Isabel was surprised to find her mother gone. Max was still sitting in the same position, his hands clasped between his knees and his head bowed. “What happened?”
“She said she needed to think about this and that we should talk tomorrow.” It was so quiet in the room after he stopped talking that Isabel imagined she could hear their hearts beat.
“Is she going to tell Dad?”
Max shrugged tiredly.
“I’ve called Michael. We need to talk.” Max looked up and locked gazes with her. Finally, he just nodded. Isabel went to close the door and lock it.
Michael arrived 10 minutes later through the window. His face was expressionless, but they knew he was worried.
“We need to tell our mother about us.” Isabel was looking at Michael, expecting his usual explosion of distrust. But Michael was looking at Max and saying nothing.
It was Max that eventually spoke up. “I don’t think we should…” But his voice lacked its usual sureness.
“Well, I think we should. Max, we cannot… you cannot go on this way. We need you too much and you can’t worry about our parents finding out all the time too. We need her, Max.” Isabel’s wasn’t pleading, she was stating a fact.
“I agree.” To say that the silence that followed Michael’s statement was deafening, was an understatement!
“Michael!”
“No Max, you are worth nothing to us if you go on like now! You need to get you life sorted out, so we can concentrate on our real problem: these other aliens that have found us.” Michael had trouble believing himself that these things were coming out of his mouth. But if nothing else, this last year has taught him that he is much better off without his stonewall around him.
“I still don’t think—”
Isabel interrupted Max. “I say we vote on this. I say we tell her.” She looked at Michael. He just nodded. “It's two to one, Max.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Putting one foot in front of the other. That was all Max wanted to concentrate on right now. He had climbed out of his window after Michael and Isabel had left and went for a walk. His mind was playing a little horror movie of what could happen when they told their mother in an endless loop. He vaguely thought he should probably not be walking around alone while these other aliens were out here looking for him, but he was too emotional to care. His biggest fear had always been that he would not belong… anywhere. And now that fear may come true.
Screeching tires had him whirling around and before the car door opened he knew it was Liz. In the seconds that he stood rooted to his spot and watched her run towards him dressed in her night gown, he remembered something very precious. He did belong. When her arms went around his neck, gripping him tightly, he knew he was home.
Liz pulled back and gently wiped the wetness from Max’s cheeks. He hadn’t even realized he was crying. “I was so worried! Are you okay?”
Max pulled her into his body, his hands tangling in her hair. “I am now.” He placed his fingers on her lips when she opened her mouth to press the issue. “Shhh, love.” He leant closer and whispered against her mouth. “We’ll talk later.”
The kiss was gentle at first. As if Max was trying to make sure this wasn’t a dream. He slowly rubbed his lips over Liz’s, finding in her sweet taste a new belief in the good of the world. A new belief in destiny. Because that’s what Liz was, his destiny.
His mind was screaming at him that this was neither the right place nor the right time to start anything, but his heart wouldn’t listen. It needed the salving only Liz’s love could provide tonight.
Liz was startled that Max would kiss her right here on the street in the dead of night in a town where most people knew each other. But she felt his feelings crashing through their connection and knew how much Max needed their closeness right now. In response, she opened her mouth, inviting him in.
Max groaned and suddenly the kiss changed. It became hot, hungry and desperate. Max kissed her until they both needed oxygen urgently. He traced the curve of her jaw with his tongue, making Liz cry out in need. His hands slid from her hair down her shoulders until they came to rest on the knot of her gown.
Some sane part of Liz’s brain was trying to tell her that this was not a good idea and her hands covered Max’s at her waist. It arrested his movements immediately. But her resolve wavered under his intense scrutiny. Max was staring at her as only he could, making her knees weak and her heart flutter. And her hands fell away ineffectively to allow him to pull robe’s edges apart.
Max’s fingers were warm when they slid over the exposed skin between her tank top and her drawstring pants. Liz’s head fell back and she sighed with the wonderful feelings his touch evoked. He had magic hands. Hands that healed. Hands that loved. Hands that could caress her soul from her body.
Mesmerized by the creamy length of the throat that was exposed to him, Max leant in and pressed his open mouth to her skin. He could feel her pulse thundering under his lips and the rhythm heated his blood further. Unthinkingly, he lifted her off her feet and into his body, his arms around her like steel bands.
They kissed again while Max walked forward until he could sit Liz down on the bonnet of her car. She wrapped her legs around his waist and ran her hands through his hair. Max kissed her passionately, pouring his love into her through the intimate invasion of her mouth. He ran his hands up under her top, tracing the curve of her spine with his fingertips.
Liz arched into him, her body silently begging for more. She pulled his shirt from his jeans and fleetingly remembered that she had done the same thing this afternoon. It felt like such a long time ago. Grazing her nails across the firm muscles of his stomach, she reveled in the helpless groan that was torn from him. His skin quivered under her touch, heating her blood further.
Max had to clench his hands into fists in the material of her top to stop himself from stripping her naked. Things had already gotten completely out of control and he certainly didn’t intend to make love to her on a car in the street. Liz was still caressing him and he caught her hands in his and held them captive behind her back in an effort to stop her from driving him insane. He kept her body pressed to his while he waited for his blood to cool down.
“Now can you tell me what happened tonight?” Liz’s voice was soft and, knowing the topic was a sensitive one for Max, she rubbed her cheek against his comfortingly. It didn’t help much though, Max tensed up immediately as reality returned with a vengeance…
Part 9 next.
Isabel backed slowly out of Max’s room, her eyes fixed on her mother and brother who were still staring at each other silently. Once in the hallway, she practically ran to her room and called Maria’s cell phone. As expected, Maria was with Michael…
“Michael, you need to come to our house right now. Max is… he needs us!” The phone went dead in her ear and she knew Michael had heard the worry in her voice. Ever since that day when he killed Pierce and worked through the intense guilt that came with that, Michael had slowly been accepting his role as the soldier of the group.
Creeping silently back to Max’s room, Isabel was surprised to find her mother gone. Max was still sitting in the same position, his hands clasped between his knees and his head bowed. “What happened?”
“She said she needed to think about this and that we should talk tomorrow.” It was so quiet in the room after he stopped talking that Isabel imagined she could hear their hearts beat.
“Is she going to tell Dad?”
Max shrugged tiredly.
“I’ve called Michael. We need to talk.” Max looked up and locked gazes with her. Finally, he just nodded. Isabel went to close the door and lock it.
Michael arrived 10 minutes later through the window. His face was expressionless, but they knew he was worried.
“We need to tell our mother about us.” Isabel was looking at Michael, expecting his usual explosion of distrust. But Michael was looking at Max and saying nothing.
It was Max that eventually spoke up. “I don’t think we should…” But his voice lacked its usual sureness.
“Well, I think we should. Max, we cannot… you cannot go on this way. We need you too much and you can’t worry about our parents finding out all the time too. We need her, Max.” Isabel’s wasn’t pleading, she was stating a fact.
“I agree.” To say that the silence that followed Michael’s statement was deafening, was an understatement!
“Michael!”
“No Max, you are worth nothing to us if you go on like now! You need to get you life sorted out, so we can concentrate on our real problem: these other aliens that have found us.” Michael had trouble believing himself that these things were coming out of his mouth. But if nothing else, this last year has taught him that he is much better off without his stonewall around him.
“I still don’t think—”
Isabel interrupted Max. “I say we vote on this. I say we tell her.” She looked at Michael. He just nodded. “It's two to one, Max.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Putting one foot in front of the other. That was all Max wanted to concentrate on right now. He had climbed out of his window after Michael and Isabel had left and went for a walk. His mind was playing a little horror movie of what could happen when they told their mother in an endless loop. He vaguely thought he should probably not be walking around alone while these other aliens were out here looking for him, but he was too emotional to care. His biggest fear had always been that he would not belong… anywhere. And now that fear may come true.
Screeching tires had him whirling around and before the car door opened he knew it was Liz. In the seconds that he stood rooted to his spot and watched her run towards him dressed in her night gown, he remembered something very precious. He did belong. When her arms went around his neck, gripping him tightly, he knew he was home.
Liz pulled back and gently wiped the wetness from Max’s cheeks. He hadn’t even realized he was crying. “I was so worried! Are you okay?”
Max pulled her into his body, his hands tangling in her hair. “I am now.” He placed his fingers on her lips when she opened her mouth to press the issue. “Shhh, love.” He leant closer and whispered against her mouth. “We’ll talk later.”
The kiss was gentle at first. As if Max was trying to make sure this wasn’t a dream. He slowly rubbed his lips over Liz’s, finding in her sweet taste a new belief in the good of the world. A new belief in destiny. Because that’s what Liz was, his destiny.
His mind was screaming at him that this was neither the right place nor the right time to start anything, but his heart wouldn’t listen. It needed the salving only Liz’s love could provide tonight.
Liz was startled that Max would kiss her right here on the street in the dead of night in a town where most people knew each other. But she felt his feelings crashing through their connection and knew how much Max needed their closeness right now. In response, she opened her mouth, inviting him in.
Max groaned and suddenly the kiss changed. It became hot, hungry and desperate. Max kissed her until they both needed oxygen urgently. He traced the curve of her jaw with his tongue, making Liz cry out in need. His hands slid from her hair down her shoulders until they came to rest on the knot of her gown.
Some sane part of Liz’s brain was trying to tell her that this was not a good idea and her hands covered Max’s at her waist. It arrested his movements immediately. But her resolve wavered under his intense scrutiny. Max was staring at her as only he could, making her knees weak and her heart flutter. And her hands fell away ineffectively to allow him to pull robe’s edges apart.
Max’s fingers were warm when they slid over the exposed skin between her tank top and her drawstring pants. Liz’s head fell back and she sighed with the wonderful feelings his touch evoked. He had magic hands. Hands that healed. Hands that loved. Hands that could caress her soul from her body.
Mesmerized by the creamy length of the throat that was exposed to him, Max leant in and pressed his open mouth to her skin. He could feel her pulse thundering under his lips and the rhythm heated his blood further. Unthinkingly, he lifted her off her feet and into his body, his arms around her like steel bands.
They kissed again while Max walked forward until he could sit Liz down on the bonnet of her car. She wrapped her legs around his waist and ran her hands through his hair. Max kissed her passionately, pouring his love into her through the intimate invasion of her mouth. He ran his hands up under her top, tracing the curve of her spine with his fingertips.
Liz arched into him, her body silently begging for more. She pulled his shirt from his jeans and fleetingly remembered that she had done the same thing this afternoon. It felt like such a long time ago. Grazing her nails across the firm muscles of his stomach, she reveled in the helpless groan that was torn from him. His skin quivered under her touch, heating her blood further.
Max had to clench his hands into fists in the material of her top to stop himself from stripping her naked. Things had already gotten completely out of control and he certainly didn’t intend to make love to her on a car in the street. Liz was still caressing him and he caught her hands in his and held them captive behind her back in an effort to stop her from driving him insane. He kept her body pressed to his while he waited for his blood to cool down.
“Now can you tell me what happened tonight?” Liz’s voice was soft and, knowing the topic was a sensitive one for Max, she rubbed her cheek against his comfortingly. It didn’t help much though, Max tensed up immediately as reality returned with a vengeance…
Part 9 next.
FON 9
PART 9
Isabel gripped the steering wheel of her mom’s car so tightly that her knuckles turned white. The moment she had been dreaming about and dreading at the same time has finally arrived. They were going to tell their parents who they were. Her mom and dad sat quietly in the back of the car, obviously confused and worried as to what was so important that they needed to be out of the house to discuss it. Max sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window at the passing scenery. He seemed more resigned to what was going to happen this morning and Isabel suspected that it was the work of Liz. She knew that Max had gone for a walk last night and returned around 03h00 after being dropped off by a car.
It had made up Isabel’s mind about something else. Liz needed to be at this meeting with their parents for the sake of Max. Even though he seemed outwardly calmer, she sensed her brother was still really close to losing it. His fear that the only parents he had ever known would reject him had taken on such gigantic proportions that he was barely able to think straight about the issue. So she had phoned Liz early this morning and asked her to meet them at the quarry. Liz had understood immediately and said she would be there. Isabel cast Max a sidelong glance. He had loved Liz and believed in her even before he really knew her and how right he had been about her. She had not only changed his life, but also that of Isabel and Michael.
Diane and Philip looked at each other when Isabel drove out of town. What on earth did the kids want to talk to them about? Diane had only just recovered from discovering that Max had been sleeping with Liz and now it looked like there was something even bigger that they wanted to confess. She saw how tense Max was and she worried about him. While Isabel had also been much more on edge lately, Diane was the most concerned about her reserved and aloof son who seemed to carry so much bottled up inside him.
Liz was waiting at the quarry. She had told her mother that she was going shopping with Isabel and her mom, after which she borrowed Maria’s car to make the trip. She had had very little sleep last night, thanks to her early morning rendezvous with Max. He had finally told her about his conversation with his mother, about them, and Liz had blushed at the thought of looking Diane Evans in the eye ever again, knowing she knew about her and Max’s physical relationship. But all her concerns about that had paled in the light of Max’s fear that his parents were going to freak when they knew what he was. So Liz had held him in her arms in the front seat of her dad’s car and told him: “Not what you are, Max, who you are. You are still you.”
And here she was again, waiting to stand at the side of the man who had become everything to her while he faced one of his biggest fears…
When they turned off the highway on the dirt road to the quarry, Max suddenly turned to Isabel and gave her a half-smile filled with relief. Isabel was puzzled until he said quietly: “Thanks for letting her come.” She had forgotten completely that Max and Liz had this weird connection that lets them know where the other one was all the time!
Liz was surprised when Michael suddenly appeared at her shoulder. Looking up at him, she realized that this was very hard for him too. He was so used to not trusting anyone but Max and Isabel for most of his life that allowing anyone else that close to him was only done if he was forced into it kicking and screaming. Liz felt a rush of tenderness for this man who had not known real love for the most part of his life and was still prepared to go against his instincts to help his brother. She turned to him and hugged him, catching Michael by surprise. “Thank you. For doing this for Max.”
Michael was hugging her back awkwardly when they heard the Evans’ car arrive. Michael saw the moment of vulnerability flash in Max’s eyes when he saw Liz in Michael’s arms. That Max could even for a fleeting moment wonder about what he was witnessing, made Michael even surer that they were doing the right thing. Max was starting to doubt things he knew were true. Like Liz not ever looking at another man.
Liz went over to Max immediately. She had also seen the look in his eyes and she was debating whether she should smack him for his stupidity or kiss him senseless for still getting jealous about her. She decided to keep it light when she remembered his parents were there too.
Max had other ideas. While Liz was still deciding if it would be okay to kiss him good morning in front of his mother, Max was reacting to the fear that had sliced through his body at the sight of Liz in someone else’s arms. His mind knew that it meant nothing but friendship, but his heart had gone into shock at the possibility that Liz might some day decide that she needed someone else… So he grabbed her to him in a desperate hug when she reached his side. He gave her quick hard kiss, one that reaffirmed his possession of her. You are mine.
Diane and Philip were even more concerned when they saw that Michael and Liz had joined them for this meeting out here in the middle of nowhere. Diane couldn’t stand the suspense anymore. “Kids, what is going on? “ She looked at Max, who had finally managed to tear his eyes away from Liz, but who continued to clutch her to him. “Does this have anything to do with what we talked about last night? With you and Liz?”
Feeling Max tense up against her, Liz pressed herself closer to him and concentrated on how much she loved him. His fleeting look of relief told her that she had succeeded in diverting his attention to her feelings, even if just for a little while.
Isabel and Michael turned to Max, waiting for him to take the lead.
An eerie calm settled over Max. This moment had been inevitable ever since the Evans’ had adopted him and Izzy. Only, the present reality held so much more than he had ever anticipated. It had his best friend and brother here supporting him. It also had the girl that carried his heart in her little hands next to him, practically carrying him with her love.
Finding his mom’s gaze first, Max took a deep breath. “We… we are not from… from earth.” He saw the shock and disbelief register in both his parents’ faces, but he decided to plunge ahead. “We were in a crash… the 1947 crash and we’re not…” Human. But he couldn’t say it.
“The 1947 crash? But that’s… that’s impossible!” Philip laughed nervously, wondering if the kids were making stupid jokes to get out of the real discussion. Whatever that was.
Diane, however, was watching her son. She didn’t know what to believe yet, but she had seen so many little things that she could never explain, that she couldn’t help but wonder.
“No, Dad. Its true.” Isabel’s soft voice got everyone’s attention. “We were in the crash. Then we were in incubation pods until… until that day you found us. We’re… from another planet.”
Max flinched as both his parents gasped. He watched them anxiously, waiting for any kind of response.
“When you say ‘we’, who exactly are you talking about?” Diane was looking at Liz.
Isabel answered. “We mean me, Max and Michael. Oh, and that girl Tess.”
“Why didn’t you tell us before?” Diane was groping hard to find some normal subject to talk about while her mind was trying to cope with what she just heard. Her beautiful children were aliens!
“We didn’t want you to be in danger because of us—”
“Danger?!” Philip interrupted Max.
Max let the floodgates open. He told them about saving Liz and about Valenti and the FBI hunting them. About how Valenti finally came around and helped them and about the other aliens that they met out at the camp. The only things he left out were being captured by Pierce and tortured as well as the whole destiny and leader thing. His parents would have enough to think about without adding all that!
By the time Max was finished, Diane was crying. Her mind had trouble coping with the fact that her children had been through so much and that she had been oblivious to it all. “Max… Isabel…” But no words came out. What do you say to something like this? Her gaze fell on Max, who was still standing with Liz clutched to his side. His face was expressionless, but Diane, with the instinct of a mother, knew that he was afraid of what her reaction was going to be.
Taking two steps towards Max, Diane halted uncertainly when Max retreated involuntarily, taking Liz with him. Diane looked pleadingly first at Max, then at Liz. She watched in awe as Liz turned to Max and got his attention immediately. The way her son stared down into the face of the small girl in his arms made Diane fight back a fresh wave of tears. He looked at Liz like she was his salvation. She saw how Liz’s gentle touch to Max’s face seemed to comfort him and she was amazed when Max finally turned to her after seemingly communicating with Liz without talking. Diane’s heart was in her throat when Max started walking towards her, still keeping Liz’s hand firmly in his. He finally stopped in front of her and his eyes spoke volumes about his vulnerability. Not being able to stand this any longer, Diane wrapped her son in her arms, hugging him lovingly. The tears that have gathered in her eyes, finally spilled over when Max hugged her back with one arm. Diane caught Liz’s relieved look and she mouthed ‘thank you’ to her.
After that, pandemonium broke loose. Everyone was hugging everyone, including Michael, much to his chagrin. When they finally quieted down a bit, Diane turned to Max. “So that’s how you healed that bird? And put out the kitchen fire?”
Max nodded, smiling now. He felt as light as air, as if the weight of the world has been lifted of his shoulders.
“And how he saved me.” Liz smiled up at him adoringly, making Max blush.
His father was still struggling to understand all of the information he had just heard. “How do you do it?”
“We manipulate molecular structures among other things.” Seeing Philip’s confusion, Max thought he’d better just show his dad. He picked up a rock and slowly slid his hand over it. He didn’t see the surprise on his parent’s faces when his hands started glowing, but he did see their stunned fascination when he showed them that he had shaped the rock into a the form of a bird. He gave it to Liz, smiling his love at her. He turned back to his parents. “Maybe we should talk some more later.” He nodded at a tearful Isabel, knowing she desperately wanted to talk with her mom. “Why don’t you guys go on home. I will go with Liz and Michael.”
Diane went over to Max and hugged him again. “I love you. I always will, no matter what.” She saw the tears shimmer in his eyes and knew she did the right thing. He had needed to hear her say that. She turned to Liz and pulled her into an embrace too. “Thank you for loving him. It means a lot to me to see him so happy.” She was rewarded with one of Liz’s brilliant smiles. It was easy to see why Max thought she was the most beautiful girl in the world.
They were all on their way to the two cars when Nick suddenly appeared. Diane and Philip moved closer to their kids protectively when they saw how the teens froze at his presence. They also noticed how Nick aimed his request almost deferentially to Max.
“We have found one of them. What do you want us to do?”
Diane and Philip were amazed. Obviously their kids have not told them the whole story yet!
Part 10 next.
Isabel gripped the steering wheel of her mom’s car so tightly that her knuckles turned white. The moment she had been dreaming about and dreading at the same time has finally arrived. They were going to tell their parents who they were. Her mom and dad sat quietly in the back of the car, obviously confused and worried as to what was so important that they needed to be out of the house to discuss it. Max sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window at the passing scenery. He seemed more resigned to what was going to happen this morning and Isabel suspected that it was the work of Liz. She knew that Max had gone for a walk last night and returned around 03h00 after being dropped off by a car.
It had made up Isabel’s mind about something else. Liz needed to be at this meeting with their parents for the sake of Max. Even though he seemed outwardly calmer, she sensed her brother was still really close to losing it. His fear that the only parents he had ever known would reject him had taken on such gigantic proportions that he was barely able to think straight about the issue. So she had phoned Liz early this morning and asked her to meet them at the quarry. Liz had understood immediately and said she would be there. Isabel cast Max a sidelong glance. He had loved Liz and believed in her even before he really knew her and how right he had been about her. She had not only changed his life, but also that of Isabel and Michael.
Diane and Philip looked at each other when Isabel drove out of town. What on earth did the kids want to talk to them about? Diane had only just recovered from discovering that Max had been sleeping with Liz and now it looked like there was something even bigger that they wanted to confess. She saw how tense Max was and she worried about him. While Isabel had also been much more on edge lately, Diane was the most concerned about her reserved and aloof son who seemed to carry so much bottled up inside him.
Liz was waiting at the quarry. She had told her mother that she was going shopping with Isabel and her mom, after which she borrowed Maria’s car to make the trip. She had had very little sleep last night, thanks to her early morning rendezvous with Max. He had finally told her about his conversation with his mother, about them, and Liz had blushed at the thought of looking Diane Evans in the eye ever again, knowing she knew about her and Max’s physical relationship. But all her concerns about that had paled in the light of Max’s fear that his parents were going to freak when they knew what he was. So Liz had held him in her arms in the front seat of her dad’s car and told him: “Not what you are, Max, who you are. You are still you.”
And here she was again, waiting to stand at the side of the man who had become everything to her while he faced one of his biggest fears…
When they turned off the highway on the dirt road to the quarry, Max suddenly turned to Isabel and gave her a half-smile filled with relief. Isabel was puzzled until he said quietly: “Thanks for letting her come.” She had forgotten completely that Max and Liz had this weird connection that lets them know where the other one was all the time!
Liz was surprised when Michael suddenly appeared at her shoulder. Looking up at him, she realized that this was very hard for him too. He was so used to not trusting anyone but Max and Isabel for most of his life that allowing anyone else that close to him was only done if he was forced into it kicking and screaming. Liz felt a rush of tenderness for this man who had not known real love for the most part of his life and was still prepared to go against his instincts to help his brother. She turned to him and hugged him, catching Michael by surprise. “Thank you. For doing this for Max.”
Michael was hugging her back awkwardly when they heard the Evans’ car arrive. Michael saw the moment of vulnerability flash in Max’s eyes when he saw Liz in Michael’s arms. That Max could even for a fleeting moment wonder about what he was witnessing, made Michael even surer that they were doing the right thing. Max was starting to doubt things he knew were true. Like Liz not ever looking at another man.
Liz went over to Max immediately. She had also seen the look in his eyes and she was debating whether she should smack him for his stupidity or kiss him senseless for still getting jealous about her. She decided to keep it light when she remembered his parents were there too.
Max had other ideas. While Liz was still deciding if it would be okay to kiss him good morning in front of his mother, Max was reacting to the fear that had sliced through his body at the sight of Liz in someone else’s arms. His mind knew that it meant nothing but friendship, but his heart had gone into shock at the possibility that Liz might some day decide that she needed someone else… So he grabbed her to him in a desperate hug when she reached his side. He gave her quick hard kiss, one that reaffirmed his possession of her. You are mine.
Diane and Philip were even more concerned when they saw that Michael and Liz had joined them for this meeting out here in the middle of nowhere. Diane couldn’t stand the suspense anymore. “Kids, what is going on? “ She looked at Max, who had finally managed to tear his eyes away from Liz, but who continued to clutch her to him. “Does this have anything to do with what we talked about last night? With you and Liz?”
Feeling Max tense up against her, Liz pressed herself closer to him and concentrated on how much she loved him. His fleeting look of relief told her that she had succeeded in diverting his attention to her feelings, even if just for a little while.
Isabel and Michael turned to Max, waiting for him to take the lead.
An eerie calm settled over Max. This moment had been inevitable ever since the Evans’ had adopted him and Izzy. Only, the present reality held so much more than he had ever anticipated. It had his best friend and brother here supporting him. It also had the girl that carried his heart in her little hands next to him, practically carrying him with her love.
Finding his mom’s gaze first, Max took a deep breath. “We… we are not from… from earth.” He saw the shock and disbelief register in both his parents’ faces, but he decided to plunge ahead. “We were in a crash… the 1947 crash and we’re not…” Human. But he couldn’t say it.
“The 1947 crash? But that’s… that’s impossible!” Philip laughed nervously, wondering if the kids were making stupid jokes to get out of the real discussion. Whatever that was.
Diane, however, was watching her son. She didn’t know what to believe yet, but she had seen so many little things that she could never explain, that she couldn’t help but wonder.
“No, Dad. Its true.” Isabel’s soft voice got everyone’s attention. “We were in the crash. Then we were in incubation pods until… until that day you found us. We’re… from another planet.”
Max flinched as both his parents gasped. He watched them anxiously, waiting for any kind of response.
“When you say ‘we’, who exactly are you talking about?” Diane was looking at Liz.
Isabel answered. “We mean me, Max and Michael. Oh, and that girl Tess.”
“Why didn’t you tell us before?” Diane was groping hard to find some normal subject to talk about while her mind was trying to cope with what she just heard. Her beautiful children were aliens!
“We didn’t want you to be in danger because of us—”
“Danger?!” Philip interrupted Max.
Max let the floodgates open. He told them about saving Liz and about Valenti and the FBI hunting them. About how Valenti finally came around and helped them and about the other aliens that they met out at the camp. The only things he left out were being captured by Pierce and tortured as well as the whole destiny and leader thing. His parents would have enough to think about without adding all that!
By the time Max was finished, Diane was crying. Her mind had trouble coping with the fact that her children had been through so much and that she had been oblivious to it all. “Max… Isabel…” But no words came out. What do you say to something like this? Her gaze fell on Max, who was still standing with Liz clutched to his side. His face was expressionless, but Diane, with the instinct of a mother, knew that he was afraid of what her reaction was going to be.
Taking two steps towards Max, Diane halted uncertainly when Max retreated involuntarily, taking Liz with him. Diane looked pleadingly first at Max, then at Liz. She watched in awe as Liz turned to Max and got his attention immediately. The way her son stared down into the face of the small girl in his arms made Diane fight back a fresh wave of tears. He looked at Liz like she was his salvation. She saw how Liz’s gentle touch to Max’s face seemed to comfort him and she was amazed when Max finally turned to her after seemingly communicating with Liz without talking. Diane’s heart was in her throat when Max started walking towards her, still keeping Liz’s hand firmly in his. He finally stopped in front of her and his eyes spoke volumes about his vulnerability. Not being able to stand this any longer, Diane wrapped her son in her arms, hugging him lovingly. The tears that have gathered in her eyes, finally spilled over when Max hugged her back with one arm. Diane caught Liz’s relieved look and she mouthed ‘thank you’ to her.
After that, pandemonium broke loose. Everyone was hugging everyone, including Michael, much to his chagrin. When they finally quieted down a bit, Diane turned to Max. “So that’s how you healed that bird? And put out the kitchen fire?”
Max nodded, smiling now. He felt as light as air, as if the weight of the world has been lifted of his shoulders.
“And how he saved me.” Liz smiled up at him adoringly, making Max blush.
His father was still struggling to understand all of the information he had just heard. “How do you do it?”
“We manipulate molecular structures among other things.” Seeing Philip’s confusion, Max thought he’d better just show his dad. He picked up a rock and slowly slid his hand over it. He didn’t see the surprise on his parent’s faces when his hands started glowing, but he did see their stunned fascination when he showed them that he had shaped the rock into a the form of a bird. He gave it to Liz, smiling his love at her. He turned back to his parents. “Maybe we should talk some more later.” He nodded at a tearful Isabel, knowing she desperately wanted to talk with her mom. “Why don’t you guys go on home. I will go with Liz and Michael.”
Diane went over to Max and hugged him again. “I love you. I always will, no matter what.” She saw the tears shimmer in his eyes and knew she did the right thing. He had needed to hear her say that. She turned to Liz and pulled her into an embrace too. “Thank you for loving him. It means a lot to me to see him so happy.” She was rewarded with one of Liz’s brilliant smiles. It was easy to see why Max thought she was the most beautiful girl in the world.
They were all on their way to the two cars when Nick suddenly appeared. Diane and Philip moved closer to their kids protectively when they saw how the teens froze at his presence. They also noticed how Nick aimed his request almost deferentially to Max.
“We have found one of them. What do you want us to do?”
Diane and Philip were amazed. Obviously their kids have not told them the whole story yet!
Part 10 next.