A/N: First off, another big thank you to everyone who nominated me into the Best Newcomer list. I am so forever grateful that you think I'm good enough to be nominated. Wow, I’m still reeling from it. I mean, I didn’t even know I made it to the final list until another Roswellian mentioned it. Just being nominated is more than enough for me. Thank you so much.
Smac: Don’t worry, Max does and will mean every word that comes out of his mouth.
P.S. I somewhat borrowed a scene from Notting Hill.
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 16
As the jet landed, Max and Liz walked out of the terminal hand in hand. Liz was worried about this trip. Although she knew that she was old enough to lead her own life, she stilled feared her parents’ reaction towards the news of a baby.
“Lizzie!” Nancy greeted as she rushed towards her daughter.
“Mom!” Liz walked briskly towards her mother. She was about to run but Max tugged on her hand, reminding her of the condition she was in. Once Liz answered him with a brief nod, he let her go. However, this didn’t escape Jeff’s observance.
“Oh we’ve missed you so much. How’s work?” Nancy went on.
“It’s great. I’m really happy.”
“That’s good to know. Welcome home, Lizzie.”
“Daddy.”
Father and daughter shared an embrace and Max wondered if he would have that with his own baby.
“Mom, Dad, I want to introduce you to my boyfriend, Max Evans.” Liz took Max’s larger hand in hers.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Parker.” Max shook their hands with his free one.
“Nice to meet you too, Max.” Nancy smiled at the young man.
The foursome went on to retrieve Max and Liz’s luggage from baggage claim and then road in the Parker’s SUV headed for their apartment.
Once they were all settled in, the Parkers and Max sat down to enjoy a hearty meal.
“Wow, this is really great.” Max complimented as he wiped his mouth with the table napkin.
“Thanks, Max.” Nancy beamed. “Now, who has room for dessert?”
“Oh Mom, I am so full already.” Liz groaned.
“Oh hush, you’re so svelte. You should eat more. Just sit tight while I go get the cake.” Nancy started to walk into the kitchen but she halted when Max called her.
“Mrs. Parker, is there anything I can do to help?”
“Oh no, Max. Just wait right there.” Nancy disappeared through the door.
“I’ll go get the plates.” Liz spoke as she followed her mother, leaving Jeff and Max alone at the dinner table.
“So Max, tell me, how did you meet my daughter?” Jeff began.
“Well, it was uh…a blind date actually.”
“A blind date.”
“Yes sir.”
“And I suppose it was love at first sight for you huh?”
Max started to sweat. “Uh yeah.”
“So where do you see this heading? This relationship between you and my Liz.”
Luckily for Max, Nancy came to the rescue. “Jeff, stop interrogating the boy.”
“I was just getting to know him better. Isn’t that right, Max?” Jeff glared.
“Uh yes sir. We were just getting to know each other better.” Max answered, wiping his brow.
“So what do you do for a living, Max?” Nancy asked as she was slicing the strawberry cheesecake.
“I’m an actor.”
“An actor?” Jeff questioned.
“Yes Daddy. Max is a very good actor.”
“Oh that’s nice. Do you act in films or stage plays?” Nancy handed a plate to Max.
“Um, mostly films.” Max replied as he placed the plate in front of Liz before getting one for himself.
“And how much do you make in these…films?” Jeff asked with distaste.
“Daddy! Jeff!” Both the Parker women exclaimed.
“What? I was just curious.” Jeff answered though his wife knew that he was grilling Max in his seat.
“Um…I earn enough.” Max said, once again becoming uncomfortable.
“How much is enough? A few hundred, maybe?” Jeff pressed.
“Dad, stop it.” Liz said sternly.
“Liz, it’s ok.” Max placed his hand on top of Liz’s.
“A few million, actually.”
Jeff and Nancy were both stunned.
“Dollars?” Nancy asked as she slowly sank in her chair.
“Yes.”
“Mom, Dad, Max is a really famous actor. As in the Max Evans…”
“Wait, Max Evans? Liz, isn’t he that actor that you’ve—” Nancy started but was quickly cut off by her daughter.
“Yeah, Mom, that’s him.” Liz blushed in embarrassment knowing where her mother’s statement was heading.
Dinner went pretty smoothly after that.
“What was that about?” Max asked as he and Liz entered her bedroom.
“Nothing. They just didn’t recognize you, that’s all.”
“Hey, not that I’m complaining or anything, but is this okay?” Max asked as he sat on the bed.
“Is what ok?” Liz turned her head to look back at him.
Max couldn’t resist it. He had to touch her. He walked up to her and circled her waist with his arms and started kissing her nape.
“This. You and me…in one room…your bedroom.” Max whispered huskily between kisses.
“Mmmm, oh Max.” Liz dropped the top she was hanging and turned to face Max. She quickly clung to him and pulled down his head for a passionate kiss.
Max was slowly walking back to the bed, still not letting go. Liz was totally devouring her boyfriend’s lips as she began to unbutton his shirt.
“I want you.” Liz whispered.
“I’m here, baby.” Max replied as he pulled away to take a breath.
Liz shook her head, “I want more.”
“Liz, don’t torture me like this.” Max moaned.
“Please.”
“We can’t, sweetie. Your parents—”
“Are asleep.”
“Liz.”
“Please, Max.”
“You know I can’t deny you anything.”
Liz pushed Max on the bed and they started a slow lover’s dance. The couple made love throughout the night, staying as quiet as possible in order not to wake Liz’s parents who were in deep slumber in the next room.
As the sun rose, Max went down the stairs into the kitchen where Jeff and Nancy were already awake. Nancy was preparing breakfast while Jeff was starting another day checking the books in the diner.
“Good morning, Max.” Nancy greeted him.
Max was sleepily rubbing one eye as he yawns a greeting in return.
“Did you sleep well?” Jeff asked.
Max stopped in mid stride wondering if Jeff knew about what went on in his daughter’s room last night.
When it was obvious that Jeff was waiting for a response, he just nodded.
“That’s good. Where’s Liz?” Jeff continued.
“She’s still asleep.”
“The trip must have worn her out.” Jeff concluded.
“Yeah, the trip.” Max sat down as Nancy put down the plate of bacon among the other food.
“Dig in.” Nancy smiled as she sat down beside Jeff.
“Um, actually, before we do that, I need to ask you something.”
“What is it?”
“Well, I know that Liz and I have been together for just a short while. But it feels like we’ve known each other for years. I know that there are things I have done that I am not proud of. And it is because of her that I have changed, for the better. I guess what I’m asking is…for your permission and blessing for me to marry your daughter.”
Jeff was shocked while Nancy’s grin slowly grew.
“Oh Max, that’s wonderful!” Nancy rejoiced.
“Nancy.” Jeff hissed.
“What?” Nancy stared at her husband.
Jeff just stared wide-eyed at his wife. ‘How could she accept this man into their family just like that?’
Nancy went back to face Max and said, “You have our blessing, Max.”
“Thank you so much. You won’t regret this.” Max grinned and was filled with joy as he went back up the stairs to Liz.
“Nancy, don’t you think we should discuss this first?” Jeff asked through gritted teeth once Max left with a smile that truly shone.
“There’s nothing to discuss, Jeff. Besides, this will be Liz’s decision, not ours. If Liz accepts, or should I say when, our jobs are to give them our blessing, help Liz with the preparations and you to walk her down the aisle.”
“But she’s just a baby…my baby.” Jeff murmured.
“Oh honey.” Nancy pitied the look on her husband’s face as he thought about losing his daughter.
A couple of days wore on and Liz was literally chomping on her lip at the prospect of having to tell her parents about the baby.
“Sweetheart, relax. It’ll be fine.” Max started to massage her shoulders.
“No, it won’t.” Liz fretted.
“You’re a grown woman, Liz. I’m sure you’re parents will be alright with this.”
“They’re gonna ask us about what our future plans are.”
“So? We’ll tell them.”
“That’s the thing, Max. What are we going to tell them?” Liz turned around to look straight at him.
“We’ll tell them that we’re living together and we plan to raise our child together.”
“Ok.”
“So, are you ready now?” Max offered his hand.
Liz looked up at him with uncertainty.
Max crouched down in front of her, “Listen, you don’t have to do anything but just sit there. I’ll do all the talking if you want. It’ll be fine, I promise.”
Liz just nodded.
Max stood up and kissed her forehead before taking her hand and leading her out to the living room.
“Mom, Dad, we need to talk.”
“What is it, Liz?”
“Well, um…” Liz looked at Max.
“We’re pregnant.” Max blurted out causing the Parkers to gape at him for different reasons; Liz because she was so surprised that he just said it so casually, Nancy because she was shocked and Jeff because he was furious.
“MAX!”
“LIZ!”
“WHAT!”
“Mr. and Mrs. Parker, Liz and I are having a baby. And before you say anything, let me just assure you that I’m sticking by Liz and there is nothing that can keep me away from my family.”
“That’s very touching Max but how do I know that you’re sincere? You’re an actor, for all I know this might just be an Oscar-winning speech.” Jeff was seething.
“Dad!”
“Jeffrey Parker! How could you say such a thing?!” Nancy reprimanded her husband.
“I’m just saying it like I see it.”
“Mr. Parker, I promise you that I’m not abandoning Liz or our baby.”
“What about your career? Aren’t you afraid that this ‘scandal’ might ruin you?”
“I don’t care and this is not a scandal. I love Liz with all my heart. She and the baby are my priority.”
The two men continued to fight a silent battle as they stared at each other.
“Daddy.” Liz’s soft voice broke through.
Jeff looked at his only daughter and saw the tears in her eyes.
“I know you’re disappointed in me—”
Jeff was taken aback. “Lizzie, no I—”
“Please, let me finish. I know that you never expected this. But it’s here and there is nothing else I can do but to accept it. Don’t pour your anger on Max because I’m at fault too. I love him Daddy.”
For the first time, Max heard her say those words. His heart overflowed with more love for the woman than he can contain. In the moments that Max told Liz that he loved her, not once did she say it back. She showed him how much she cared for him through her actions but she has never spoken it out loud, until now.
“I’ll be honest with you, even I didn’t anticipate this. But there is no way that I would do anything that would harm my baby. You may want to throw me out after knowing this but I just hope that someday you’ll forgive me.” Liz sobbed quietly.
“Lizzie.” Jeff moved forward and hugged his own child. “I’m sorry. I am so sorry. You should forgive me for the way I acted. Whatever you need sweetie, your Mom and I are here to support you.”
“That’s right, Liz. Whatever you need, don’t hesitate to come to us. We’re just a phone call away.” Nancy joined the family hug.
“You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll make sure Liz has everything she needs.” Max added.
Jeff turned to Max, “I’m entrusting her to you. Take care of her.” He offered an open palm to the younger man as a sign of truce.
Max gladly accepted it, “I will. And thanks.”
Both men shared a look that carried a lot of meaning, both understanding that they would do anything for the young woman that now connected them.
to be continued....
Another What If (AU, M/L- ADULT) ~{COMPLETE}~
Moderators: Anniepoo98, Rowedog, ISLANDGIRL5, Itzstacie, truelovepooh, FSU/MSW-94, Erina, Hunter, Forum Moderators
A/N: Hi everyone. I was supposed to post this part yesterday but I wasn't feeling well. I thought it was because of my eyes but I went to the doctor and she said I still have 20/20 vision, thank God. But anyway, I hope you'll like this chapter. I'm really going to try to post every three days so I could start on my other fics. Thanks for still reading this.
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 17
Another family dinner brought the Evans together. And again, Liz was present. Today was the day that she and Max would tell his family about the new addition.
Liz was busy chatting away with Karen and Max was watching her. He was staring at her with all the love he had and Isabel was quick to notice.
“She’s not going to disappear, you know.” Isabel said as she stood beside her brother.
“Huh?” Max shook his head to clear his mind.
“You were watching her like a hawk.”
“I can’t help it, Iz.” He spoke, still not tearing his gaze away from his girlfriend.
“You’re so in love with her.”
“Yes, I am.” He gave Isabel a small smile.
“I’m happy for you, Max.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me. She deserves that.” Isabel nodded in Liz’s direction.
The twins just shared a smile before they all sat down to lunch.
“So Alex, how’s work going?” Philip asked as he scooped up some lasagna.
“Don’t ask me. Liz over there is one of my best scientists. She could tell you how work is going.” Alex grinned.
Liz blushed at the praise her boss gave her.
Max chuckled, finding his girlfriend so adorable.
“I’m not…I’m not really one of his best…”
“Oh don’t be so modest, Liz. See, she heads a team that’s working on finding a cure for cancer and she’s with the pediatric division.” Alex said proudly.
“Wow, that’s wonderful, Liz.” Diane beamed.
“Yeah, that’s great. I didn’t know that’s what you do.” Isabel spoke.
“You must be very smart.” Andrew said sincerely.
But that was not how Max heard it. He glared at his brother who was sitting on the opposite side of the table.
Isabel, who was directly in front of Max, swiftly kicked his leg after seeing the murderous look on his face.
“Ow.” Max winced and jumped slightly from his seat.
“Max, are you ok?” Diane asked.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine.” He answered through gritted teeth.
“Well, I’m really glad we’re all together.” Isabel decided to change the topic. “Alex and I have decided on a motif for our wedding.”
“Oh that’s wonderful.” Diane smiled.
“I’ll still be your maid of honor, right?” Karen asked.
“Of course.” Isabel looked at her sister.
“Ahem.” Max cleared his throat. “Since we’re all in the mood for announcements, Liz and I have something to tell you.” Max smiled.
“Max.” Liz was worried.
Max took her hand and kissed it. “Guys, Liz and I are pregnant.” Max said happily.
After that statement, the entire family was stunned into silence.
Diane and Philip looked at each other. Isabel looked guilty because she already knew about it but she didn’t say a word to anyone. Andrew and Karen didn’t know if they should be happy or mad at his irresponsibility.
Liz’s face fell. She knew that Max’s family might not be happy with the news. Her parents had mixed reactions and she wasn’t as rich or famous as Max. What would his family think of her?
Alex saw the look on Liz’s face. He saw the sadness and something akin to fear cross her beautiful features. He stood up and walked over to her. Then he hugged her.
“Congratulations, Liz. I can’t wait to have a nephew or niece to play with.”
Liz was surprised at first but then she hugged him back, thankful for his kindness.
As the two pulled apart, Alex began to ask her questions about the baby.
“So do you know when you’re due?”
“Um, about 6 months from now.” Liz whispered.
“That’s so great. Don’t you think so Izzy?” Alex decided to have Isabel join in the conversation to relieve the tension in the room.
“Yeah, that’s great, Liz.” She said excitedly. “Do you know what you’re having already?”
“Um, not yet. But we have a pre-natal check-up next week, though we won’t know for sure until halfway through the pregnancy.”
Diane looked at Max and she saw her son’s happiness making him glow. “I can’t believe I’m going to be a grandma.” Then she stood up and hugged Liz.
“Thank you.” She whispered in Liz’s ear. It was a sign of gratitude for Liz keeping her son’s feet on the ground. She knew it was Liz who changed her little boy for the better.
Liz smiled at Diane as they separated.
Philip patted Max on the back. Although this was a huge surprise to them, he could see the joy in Max’s face about having his own family. “That’s wonderful, Max. Congratulations, son. Another Evans will be added to the clan. This calls for a toast.”
The Evans family toasted to the new addition, with the exception of Liz who raised her glass full of fruit juice. The toast wasn’t just for the baby, but for Liz joining the family as well.
As Max and Liz got in bed for the night, Liz was wearing Max’s pajama top while he was wearing the matching pants.
She was just lying in bed quietly, a million thoughts running in her head.
“Where are you?” Max caressed her face as he lied down beside her.
“I want to tell Maria and Michael.”
“Ok.”
“Tomorrow.”
“Alright. We could invite them out to dinner and then we’ll tell them.”
“Michael will be angry.”
“Why do you think that?”
“One, because I didn’t tell them sooner. And two, because he’d say I’m stupid and careless.”
“Liz. You are not stupid. You understand me?” Max said determinedly.
A tear slipped from her eye. “They’ll be so disappointed.”
“Liz, this is your life. They can’t tell you what to do.”
“I know, but I’m scared of what they’ll say. I was always the responsible one. And now I’m pregnant.”
“No, we’re pregnant. This is you and me.” Max placed a hand on her lower stomach.
“Thank you for being here.”
“This is forever, Liz. You and me. I want us to get married. I want us to be a family. That is, if you’ll do me the honor of becoming my wife.”
Liz just stared at him speechlessly.
“Liz?”
No answer.
“Baby?”
Still no answer.
Then Max noticed that she wasn’t breathing.
“Liz, sweetie, breathe.”
Liz inhaled deeply. “Oh my god, are you real? I mean, is this real? Are you really asking me?”
“Yes, yes and yes. But that’s supposed to be your line.” Max smiled as he wiped away the tears that have spilled from Liz’s eyes with the pads of his thumbs.
Liz smiled widely and started kissing him.
They shared a passionate kiss, both wanting more. Max started unbuttoning Liz’s top as Liz began to pull his pajamas down.
Both of them didn’t want to break the kiss. Max slowly got on top of Liz as she lay naked for her lover. Once he got his own piece of clothing off, he quickly positioned himself between her legs.
Max wanted this to go as languidly as possible. There was no need to rush. This wasn’t just casual sex. He was going to make love to the only woman he felt this strongly for.
He pushed himself in slowly as Liz arched her hips for more. She wanted to go faster but Max held her down.
“I want this to last all night.” He kissed her naked shoulder. He entwined their hands together as he buried himself inside her.
He stared at her, soaking in her beauty. Once he was all the way in, he allowed Liz to set the pace. She started to buck her hips, enticing him to move.
Max kissed her hard as he began to make love to her, his kisses swallowing her moans of pleasure.
Their lovemaking was slow and passionate. Max took her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist, placing a hickey there to mark her as his own.
“Mine.” He murmured against her sweet skin.
“Max.”
“Oh yes.”
The two continued on as their climax were building. Liz was running her hands on his nape as he enjoyed her fingers playing with his hair.
His hands weren’t idle either as he roamed the smoothness of her skin.
Their passion grew and Liz started to tremble as she neared her orgasm.
“Max.”
“That’s it, baby. Just let go. I’ll catch you.”
“Oh Max…I’m so close.”
“Yes sweetie, I know.”
Her walls started to clamp on him. As her orgasm was peaking, so was his.
“Oh Max, I…I’m cumming.”
“Yes baby, that’s it, just let go.”
“MAX!!!!” Liz arched her back, making Max go even deeper. Her slick hot walls clenched him and he released a torrent of his own juices deep inside her.
“LIZ!!!!” Both shared a mutual orgasm as he continued to pump inside her.
A few more minutes later, both came down from their high.
“Liz, that was incredible.”
“I know.”
Max started to roll off of her but Liz held on to him.
“Sweetie, I’m heavy.”
“Don’t go just yet.”
Max laughed, “I’m right here.”
“But I’ll miss your warmth.”
Max smiled at her and brushed away the hair on her forehead. “I love you, Liz. Promise me you won’t ever leave me.” Max laid his head on her chest as he whispered these words to her heart.
“I’m not going anywhere, Max. You’re stuck with me, especially once we’re married.” Liz ran her fingers through his hair.
Max quickly moved off her to look in her eyes. “You’re saying yes?”
Liz nodded, “I’m saying yes.”
Max swiftly got off her and shouted at the top of his lungs. “Yes! I’m going to marry the most beautiful woman in this planet and all the others in the universe!”
Liz couldn’t help but laugh at his antics.
Then Max went to his dresser and got a black velvet box from one of the drawers. He sat down beside her and put a platinum diamond ring on her finger.
Then Max enveloped her in his loving arms. Liz didn’t even notice the ring. She was just happy that they were going to be a real family.
“I love you so much, Lizzie.”
“I love you too, Max.”
The couple once again kissed as they shared in the bliss of their love.
to be continued....
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 17
Another family dinner brought the Evans together. And again, Liz was present. Today was the day that she and Max would tell his family about the new addition.
Liz was busy chatting away with Karen and Max was watching her. He was staring at her with all the love he had and Isabel was quick to notice.
“She’s not going to disappear, you know.” Isabel said as she stood beside her brother.
“Huh?” Max shook his head to clear his mind.
“You were watching her like a hawk.”
“I can’t help it, Iz.” He spoke, still not tearing his gaze away from his girlfriend.
“You’re so in love with her.”
“Yes, I am.” He gave Isabel a small smile.
“I’m happy for you, Max.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me. She deserves that.” Isabel nodded in Liz’s direction.
The twins just shared a smile before they all sat down to lunch.
“So Alex, how’s work going?” Philip asked as he scooped up some lasagna.
“Don’t ask me. Liz over there is one of my best scientists. She could tell you how work is going.” Alex grinned.
Liz blushed at the praise her boss gave her.
Max chuckled, finding his girlfriend so adorable.
“I’m not…I’m not really one of his best…”
“Oh don’t be so modest, Liz. See, she heads a team that’s working on finding a cure for cancer and she’s with the pediatric division.” Alex said proudly.
“Wow, that’s wonderful, Liz.” Diane beamed.
“Yeah, that’s great. I didn’t know that’s what you do.” Isabel spoke.
“You must be very smart.” Andrew said sincerely.
But that was not how Max heard it. He glared at his brother who was sitting on the opposite side of the table.
Isabel, who was directly in front of Max, swiftly kicked his leg after seeing the murderous look on his face.
“Ow.” Max winced and jumped slightly from his seat.
“Max, are you ok?” Diane asked.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine.” He answered through gritted teeth.
“Well, I’m really glad we’re all together.” Isabel decided to change the topic. “Alex and I have decided on a motif for our wedding.”
“Oh that’s wonderful.” Diane smiled.
“I’ll still be your maid of honor, right?” Karen asked.
“Of course.” Isabel looked at her sister.
“Ahem.” Max cleared his throat. “Since we’re all in the mood for announcements, Liz and I have something to tell you.” Max smiled.
“Max.” Liz was worried.
Max took her hand and kissed it. “Guys, Liz and I are pregnant.” Max said happily.
After that statement, the entire family was stunned into silence.
Diane and Philip looked at each other. Isabel looked guilty because she already knew about it but she didn’t say a word to anyone. Andrew and Karen didn’t know if they should be happy or mad at his irresponsibility.
Liz’s face fell. She knew that Max’s family might not be happy with the news. Her parents had mixed reactions and she wasn’t as rich or famous as Max. What would his family think of her?
Alex saw the look on Liz’s face. He saw the sadness and something akin to fear cross her beautiful features. He stood up and walked over to her. Then he hugged her.
“Congratulations, Liz. I can’t wait to have a nephew or niece to play with.”
Liz was surprised at first but then she hugged him back, thankful for his kindness.
As the two pulled apart, Alex began to ask her questions about the baby.
“So do you know when you’re due?”
“Um, about 6 months from now.” Liz whispered.
“That’s so great. Don’t you think so Izzy?” Alex decided to have Isabel join in the conversation to relieve the tension in the room.
“Yeah, that’s great, Liz.” She said excitedly. “Do you know what you’re having already?”
“Um, not yet. But we have a pre-natal check-up next week, though we won’t know for sure until halfway through the pregnancy.”
Diane looked at Max and she saw her son’s happiness making him glow. “I can’t believe I’m going to be a grandma.” Then she stood up and hugged Liz.
“Thank you.” She whispered in Liz’s ear. It was a sign of gratitude for Liz keeping her son’s feet on the ground. She knew it was Liz who changed her little boy for the better.
Liz smiled at Diane as they separated.
Philip patted Max on the back. Although this was a huge surprise to them, he could see the joy in Max’s face about having his own family. “That’s wonderful, Max. Congratulations, son. Another Evans will be added to the clan. This calls for a toast.”
The Evans family toasted to the new addition, with the exception of Liz who raised her glass full of fruit juice. The toast wasn’t just for the baby, but for Liz joining the family as well.
As Max and Liz got in bed for the night, Liz was wearing Max’s pajama top while he was wearing the matching pants.
She was just lying in bed quietly, a million thoughts running in her head.
“Where are you?” Max caressed her face as he lied down beside her.
“I want to tell Maria and Michael.”
“Ok.”
“Tomorrow.”
“Alright. We could invite them out to dinner and then we’ll tell them.”
“Michael will be angry.”
“Why do you think that?”
“One, because I didn’t tell them sooner. And two, because he’d say I’m stupid and careless.”
“Liz. You are not stupid. You understand me?” Max said determinedly.
A tear slipped from her eye. “They’ll be so disappointed.”
“Liz, this is your life. They can’t tell you what to do.”
“I know, but I’m scared of what they’ll say. I was always the responsible one. And now I’m pregnant.”
“No, we’re pregnant. This is you and me.” Max placed a hand on her lower stomach.
“Thank you for being here.”
“This is forever, Liz. You and me. I want us to get married. I want us to be a family. That is, if you’ll do me the honor of becoming my wife.”
Liz just stared at him speechlessly.
“Liz?”
No answer.
“Baby?”
Still no answer.
Then Max noticed that she wasn’t breathing.
“Liz, sweetie, breathe.”
Liz inhaled deeply. “Oh my god, are you real? I mean, is this real? Are you really asking me?”
“Yes, yes and yes. But that’s supposed to be your line.” Max smiled as he wiped away the tears that have spilled from Liz’s eyes with the pads of his thumbs.
Liz smiled widely and started kissing him.
They shared a passionate kiss, both wanting more. Max started unbuttoning Liz’s top as Liz began to pull his pajamas down.
Both of them didn’t want to break the kiss. Max slowly got on top of Liz as she lay naked for her lover. Once he got his own piece of clothing off, he quickly positioned himself between her legs.
Max wanted this to go as languidly as possible. There was no need to rush. This wasn’t just casual sex. He was going to make love to the only woman he felt this strongly for.
He pushed himself in slowly as Liz arched her hips for more. She wanted to go faster but Max held her down.
“I want this to last all night.” He kissed her naked shoulder. He entwined their hands together as he buried himself inside her.
He stared at her, soaking in her beauty. Once he was all the way in, he allowed Liz to set the pace. She started to buck her hips, enticing him to move.
Max kissed her hard as he began to make love to her, his kisses swallowing her moans of pleasure.
Their lovemaking was slow and passionate. Max took her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist, placing a hickey there to mark her as his own.
“Mine.” He murmured against her sweet skin.
“Max.”
“Oh yes.”
The two continued on as their climax were building. Liz was running her hands on his nape as he enjoyed her fingers playing with his hair.
His hands weren’t idle either as he roamed the smoothness of her skin.
Their passion grew and Liz started to tremble as she neared her orgasm.
“Max.”
“That’s it, baby. Just let go. I’ll catch you.”
“Oh Max…I’m so close.”
“Yes sweetie, I know.”
Her walls started to clamp on him. As her orgasm was peaking, so was his.
“Oh Max, I…I’m cumming.”
“Yes baby, that’s it, just let go.”
“MAX!!!!” Liz arched her back, making Max go even deeper. Her slick hot walls clenched him and he released a torrent of his own juices deep inside her.
“LIZ!!!!” Both shared a mutual orgasm as he continued to pump inside her.
A few more minutes later, both came down from their high.
“Liz, that was incredible.”
“I know.”
Max started to roll off of her but Liz held on to him.
“Sweetie, I’m heavy.”
“Don’t go just yet.”
Max laughed, “I’m right here.”
“But I’ll miss your warmth.”
Max smiled at her and brushed away the hair on her forehead. “I love you, Liz. Promise me you won’t ever leave me.” Max laid his head on her chest as he whispered these words to her heart.
“I’m not going anywhere, Max. You’re stuck with me, especially once we’re married.” Liz ran her fingers through his hair.
Max quickly moved off her to look in her eyes. “You’re saying yes?”
Liz nodded, “I’m saying yes.”
Max swiftly got off her and shouted at the top of his lungs. “Yes! I’m going to marry the most beautiful woman in this planet and all the others in the universe!”
Liz couldn’t help but laugh at his antics.
Then Max went to his dresser and got a black velvet box from one of the drawers. He sat down beside her and put a platinum diamond ring on her finger.
Then Max enveloped her in his loving arms. Liz didn’t even notice the ring. She was just happy that they were going to be a real family.
“I love you so much, Lizzie.”
“I love you too, Max.”
The couple once again kissed as they shared in the bliss of their love.
to be continued....
Chapter 18
Liz and Max agreed to tell Maria and Michael about the baby during dinner at their house. They thought it was better than going to a restaurant because if Michael decides to lash out, Liz knew there was no stopping him.
“Thanks for dinner, Max.” Maria smiled. She thought this was a wonderful gesture for her and Michael to get to know Liz’s boyfriend.
“Actually, Liz and I have something to tell you both.” Max beamed at his fiancée.
“What is it?” Maria asked worriedly.
“Oh, Maria it’s nothing to worry about, really.” Liz placed her hand on top of her best friend’s.
And Maria gave a loud gasp. She quickly snatched Liz’s hand to take a closer look.
“You’re engaged!” Maria grinned.
“You’re what?!”
“Michael, calm down.” Liz pleaded.
“Calm down?! Liz, you hardly know this guy!” Michael pointed to Max.
“Michael, stop it.” Maria tried to quiet him down.
“No!” He shouted at Maria then he turned his attention back to Liz. “First you move in with him in mere months since you’ve met him. And now you’re telling me you two are getting married?! The next thing I know, you’ll be announcing your pregnancy!”
Liz bit her lip and lowered her head, tears welling up in her eyes.
When Liz didn’t answer him, Michael knew he got his answer. He quickly stood up and threw his napkin on the table. “Fucking hell! What in the world were you thinking?!” He towered over Liz as she started to cry.
Max stood up instantly as he tried to protect Liz from the blows Michael made with his words. “Don’t you dare speak to her that way!”
Michael pushed Max, “Don’t you dare tell me what to do! Liz is my best friend, she was sensible before she met you. And you’re going to stand there dictating my actions, when you knocked up my friend, you son of a bitch.”
Maria swiftly got in between as the two men faced off. “Michael, stop! Max, please, just take care of Liz.” Maria tugged on Michael’s arm. “C’mon Michael. Max, I am so sorry. Lizzie, I’ll call you, ok sweetie?” She pulled Michael away once more, “Let’s go.”
Max stared at Michael in anger till he was out of the room. Then he looked down on Liz who was huddled in her chair, crying her heart out.
“Baby, I’m so sorry.” He knelt in front of her and cradled her face to make her look at him. What he saw broke his heart.
“Sshhh, it’s ok.” Max hugged her tenderly as she sobbed. He lifted her out of the chair and carried her back to their bedroom while Liz clung to Max as she wept.
Once Max told his family that he proposed to Liz and she accepted, his parents were so happy for him. Isabel still had some lingering doubts about Max’s actions but he truly looked so happy that she decided to set them aside and help her twin with the preparations.
Andrew, on the other hand, was thinking that Liz may be after his brother’s money. Since Max has been working from the time when he was a teenager, he already has millions in the bank.
However, Alex quickly zapped that idea when he informed Andrew of Liz’s salary. And with her brains, many would pay a huge amount to have her work for them.
Karen was just excited to have a new addition to their family. Not only is she gaining a new sister, they will have a baby to play with too.
Max arranged for Liz’s wedding dress to be made by Vera Wang. Isabel was so excited about it despite Liz’s protests. She didn’t want a dress that would cost thousands of dollars. She just wanted a simple gown. That was what Liz was all about, simplicity.
Unfortunately for her, Isabel had other plans. At first she wanted it to be spectacular since her brother was a very famous actor, everything had to be lavish: the clothes, the place, the flowers, the food, everything.
And then Liz got furious. Of course, her heightened hormones contributed a lot to it.
“I’m not going to go for this, Max.” Liz fumed.
“Baby, it’s just one day.”
“Exactly! OUR wedding will only be for a day, not a freaking century! This should be our day and NOT everyone else’s. I swear if she continues this, there won’t be a wedding!”
Max panicked, “You can’t mean that!”
“Oh yes I do, Max Evans!” Liz stalked off towards their living room and plopped down on the couch, hot tears stinging her eyes.
Max was right on her heels. He sat on the coffee table to face his fiancée. “Lizzie.” He wiped away her tears.
“I just want it to be simple, sacred. Not bombarded with the press and hundreds of people that even you don’t know.”
“Ok.”
“Ok?”
Max nodded, “I’ll tell Isabel to cancel everything. We’ll do the planning by ourselves. I only asked for her help because I didn’t want you to pressure yourself on this. Stress isn’t good for the both of you.” Max touched her belly.
“I think it would have been better than having your sister breathing down my neck.” Liz gave him a small smile.
“Alright, from now on, we do it on our own.” He got a pad and pen and started jotting down what THEY wanted.
“I just want a simple dress.” Liz began.
“I thought Vera was already doing that.”
“Yeah…it is simple but it didn’t have to cost so much.”
“But it’s almost done, isn’t it?”
Liz nodded.
“Then what’s the problem?”
Liz sighed knowing there was no point in avoiding this topic. “It’s too expensive”, she mumbled.
“Liz, money is no object when it comes to you.”
“I know but it should be. Max, we are having a baby soon. Do you know how much raising a baby will cost?”
“No but it wouldn’t be a problem. We have more than enough. Besides, whom should I spend all that dough on but you and our child? Don’t worry about it. The dress stays, agreed?”
“Agreed.”
“Good, now the place. I think you’ll like what I have in mind.”
“What is it?”
“Well, I was thinking that we want this to be simple and solemn. What about getting married in Roswell?”
Liz’s eyes lit up and Max realized that he wanted to see Liz that way all the time. “Really?”
Max nodded.
“Oh Max, that would be wonderful. No one would suspect us to have the wedding there.”
“Well, maybe one or two would. I wouldn’t get it past those people to have dug up something on you too. But yes, there would hardly be any press there.”
“Ok, we definitely agree on the place.”
“And the invited would only be our families and friends.”
Liz nodded as Max wrote down another thing they agreed on. They continued until every aspect of the wedding has been dealt with. Except for one more thing.
“Now, the food.” Max knew it was a subject that Liz didn’t want to go into. She wanted to have Michael do the catering but with the way things were between them, it was close to impossible.
“I could ask my dad…” Liz pondered.
“No, he has to walk you down the aisle. If he does that, he’ll be too rattled. And you want him to be there through out the whole reception. I know you’ve been thinking about Michael—”
“It’s ok. I don’t want him there if he’s only going to ruin our day for us.”
Max let it go. He already knew how determined Liz was once she set her mind on something. But he would be damned if he would allow Michael to make her worry about their friendship.
Max and Liz were once again in Roswell to arrange their wedding. At first Isabel was shocked that all her planning was thrown aside. Max and Liz stood firm in letting her know what they wanted. And reluctantly, Isabel backed off.
Liz’s parents were so happy when they told them that the wedding was going to be in her hometown. Liz quickly briefed Nancy on their plans while Max and Jeff just sat back and listened. Jeff soon saw how much Max loved his daughter and eventually warmed up to the young man that was to become a part of their family.
Max had another surprise for his future wife. While they were in Roswell, he found out that Michael and Maria were there too. Maria had come for her best friend and she dragged Michael along with her.
With a little help from Maria, Max got the chance to talk to Michael alone.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Michael snarled.
“We need to talk.”
“You don’t have to say anything. You got her wrapped around your finger. But I’m telling you now, Evans, you hurt a single strand of her hair and I will hunt you down and kill you with my bare hands.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s a promise.” Michael’s eyes flashed with fury.
“Why do you hate me so much? What have I done to you? I’ve treated you with nothing but respect. And the only reason I can see as to why you’re so against Liz and me is that maybe you’re in love with her.”
“You’re right. I do love her…as a sister. So get your mind out of the gutter and leave.” Michael was appalled at the audacity of the man before him to suggest that he was in love with his best friend. Liz was the sister he never had. And he would protect her from everything if he had to. Including this guy.
“No. Not until you promise me that you’ll be at the wedding.”
“What?!”
“If you claim to love her that much then be there for her. This is tearing her apart. If you value your friendship as much as she does, if you love her as much as I love my sisters, then you’ll be supporting her no matter what. Set aside whatever hostility you have for me and just think of her and how happy she’ll be to have you there as well. I know that you and Maria are her most cherished friends. Honor that friendship, Michael. If I were in your shoes, I would consider myself to be lucky to have a friend like Liz.”
When Max finished his speech, Michael saw a different man standing before him. He couldn’t think of any comeback as he pondered on his words.
Max took his silence as a negative answer to his plea. “Please reconsider, Michael.”
Thinking of nothing else left to say, Max turned and walked back to the direction he came from, leaving Michael standing at his front doorstep studying his best friend’s fiancé.
to be continued....
Liz and Max agreed to tell Maria and Michael about the baby during dinner at their house. They thought it was better than going to a restaurant because if Michael decides to lash out, Liz knew there was no stopping him.
“Thanks for dinner, Max.” Maria smiled. She thought this was a wonderful gesture for her and Michael to get to know Liz’s boyfriend.
“Actually, Liz and I have something to tell you both.” Max beamed at his fiancée.
“What is it?” Maria asked worriedly.
“Oh, Maria it’s nothing to worry about, really.” Liz placed her hand on top of her best friend’s.
And Maria gave a loud gasp. She quickly snatched Liz’s hand to take a closer look.
“You’re engaged!” Maria grinned.
“You’re what?!”
“Michael, calm down.” Liz pleaded.
“Calm down?! Liz, you hardly know this guy!” Michael pointed to Max.
“Michael, stop it.” Maria tried to quiet him down.
“No!” He shouted at Maria then he turned his attention back to Liz. “First you move in with him in mere months since you’ve met him. And now you’re telling me you two are getting married?! The next thing I know, you’ll be announcing your pregnancy!”
Liz bit her lip and lowered her head, tears welling up in her eyes.
When Liz didn’t answer him, Michael knew he got his answer. He quickly stood up and threw his napkin on the table. “Fucking hell! What in the world were you thinking?!” He towered over Liz as she started to cry.
Max stood up instantly as he tried to protect Liz from the blows Michael made with his words. “Don’t you dare speak to her that way!”
Michael pushed Max, “Don’t you dare tell me what to do! Liz is my best friend, she was sensible before she met you. And you’re going to stand there dictating my actions, when you knocked up my friend, you son of a bitch.”
Maria swiftly got in between as the two men faced off. “Michael, stop! Max, please, just take care of Liz.” Maria tugged on Michael’s arm. “C’mon Michael. Max, I am so sorry. Lizzie, I’ll call you, ok sweetie?” She pulled Michael away once more, “Let’s go.”
Max stared at Michael in anger till he was out of the room. Then he looked down on Liz who was huddled in her chair, crying her heart out.
“Baby, I’m so sorry.” He knelt in front of her and cradled her face to make her look at him. What he saw broke his heart.
“Sshhh, it’s ok.” Max hugged her tenderly as she sobbed. He lifted her out of the chair and carried her back to their bedroom while Liz clung to Max as she wept.
Once Max told his family that he proposed to Liz and she accepted, his parents were so happy for him. Isabel still had some lingering doubts about Max’s actions but he truly looked so happy that she decided to set them aside and help her twin with the preparations.
Andrew, on the other hand, was thinking that Liz may be after his brother’s money. Since Max has been working from the time when he was a teenager, he already has millions in the bank.
However, Alex quickly zapped that idea when he informed Andrew of Liz’s salary. And with her brains, many would pay a huge amount to have her work for them.
Karen was just excited to have a new addition to their family. Not only is she gaining a new sister, they will have a baby to play with too.
Max arranged for Liz’s wedding dress to be made by Vera Wang. Isabel was so excited about it despite Liz’s protests. She didn’t want a dress that would cost thousands of dollars. She just wanted a simple gown. That was what Liz was all about, simplicity.
Unfortunately for her, Isabel had other plans. At first she wanted it to be spectacular since her brother was a very famous actor, everything had to be lavish: the clothes, the place, the flowers, the food, everything.
And then Liz got furious. Of course, her heightened hormones contributed a lot to it.
“I’m not going to go for this, Max.” Liz fumed.
“Baby, it’s just one day.”
“Exactly! OUR wedding will only be for a day, not a freaking century! This should be our day and NOT everyone else’s. I swear if she continues this, there won’t be a wedding!”
Max panicked, “You can’t mean that!”
“Oh yes I do, Max Evans!” Liz stalked off towards their living room and plopped down on the couch, hot tears stinging her eyes.
Max was right on her heels. He sat on the coffee table to face his fiancée. “Lizzie.” He wiped away her tears.
“I just want it to be simple, sacred. Not bombarded with the press and hundreds of people that even you don’t know.”
“Ok.”
“Ok?”
Max nodded, “I’ll tell Isabel to cancel everything. We’ll do the planning by ourselves. I only asked for her help because I didn’t want you to pressure yourself on this. Stress isn’t good for the both of you.” Max touched her belly.
“I think it would have been better than having your sister breathing down my neck.” Liz gave him a small smile.
“Alright, from now on, we do it on our own.” He got a pad and pen and started jotting down what THEY wanted.
“I just want a simple dress.” Liz began.
“I thought Vera was already doing that.”
“Yeah…it is simple but it didn’t have to cost so much.”
“But it’s almost done, isn’t it?”
Liz nodded.
“Then what’s the problem?”
Liz sighed knowing there was no point in avoiding this topic. “It’s too expensive”, she mumbled.
“Liz, money is no object when it comes to you.”
“I know but it should be. Max, we are having a baby soon. Do you know how much raising a baby will cost?”
“No but it wouldn’t be a problem. We have more than enough. Besides, whom should I spend all that dough on but you and our child? Don’t worry about it. The dress stays, agreed?”
“Agreed.”
“Good, now the place. I think you’ll like what I have in mind.”
“What is it?”
“Well, I was thinking that we want this to be simple and solemn. What about getting married in Roswell?”
Liz’s eyes lit up and Max realized that he wanted to see Liz that way all the time. “Really?”
Max nodded.
“Oh Max, that would be wonderful. No one would suspect us to have the wedding there.”
“Well, maybe one or two would. I wouldn’t get it past those people to have dug up something on you too. But yes, there would hardly be any press there.”
“Ok, we definitely agree on the place.”
“And the invited would only be our families and friends.”
Liz nodded as Max wrote down another thing they agreed on. They continued until every aspect of the wedding has been dealt with. Except for one more thing.
“Now, the food.” Max knew it was a subject that Liz didn’t want to go into. She wanted to have Michael do the catering but with the way things were between them, it was close to impossible.
“I could ask my dad…” Liz pondered.
“No, he has to walk you down the aisle. If he does that, he’ll be too rattled. And you want him to be there through out the whole reception. I know you’ve been thinking about Michael—”
“It’s ok. I don’t want him there if he’s only going to ruin our day for us.”
Max let it go. He already knew how determined Liz was once she set her mind on something. But he would be damned if he would allow Michael to make her worry about their friendship.
Max and Liz were once again in Roswell to arrange their wedding. At first Isabel was shocked that all her planning was thrown aside. Max and Liz stood firm in letting her know what they wanted. And reluctantly, Isabel backed off.
Liz’s parents were so happy when they told them that the wedding was going to be in her hometown. Liz quickly briefed Nancy on their plans while Max and Jeff just sat back and listened. Jeff soon saw how much Max loved his daughter and eventually warmed up to the young man that was to become a part of their family.
Max had another surprise for his future wife. While they were in Roswell, he found out that Michael and Maria were there too. Maria had come for her best friend and she dragged Michael along with her.
With a little help from Maria, Max got the chance to talk to Michael alone.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Michael snarled.
“We need to talk.”
“You don’t have to say anything. You got her wrapped around your finger. But I’m telling you now, Evans, you hurt a single strand of her hair and I will hunt you down and kill you with my bare hands.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s a promise.” Michael’s eyes flashed with fury.
“Why do you hate me so much? What have I done to you? I’ve treated you with nothing but respect. And the only reason I can see as to why you’re so against Liz and me is that maybe you’re in love with her.”
“You’re right. I do love her…as a sister. So get your mind out of the gutter and leave.” Michael was appalled at the audacity of the man before him to suggest that he was in love with his best friend. Liz was the sister he never had. And he would protect her from everything if he had to. Including this guy.
“No. Not until you promise me that you’ll be at the wedding.”
“What?!”
“If you claim to love her that much then be there for her. This is tearing her apart. If you value your friendship as much as she does, if you love her as much as I love my sisters, then you’ll be supporting her no matter what. Set aside whatever hostility you have for me and just think of her and how happy she’ll be to have you there as well. I know that you and Maria are her most cherished friends. Honor that friendship, Michael. If I were in your shoes, I would consider myself to be lucky to have a friend like Liz.”
When Max finished his speech, Michael saw a different man standing before him. He couldn’t think of any comeback as he pondered on his words.
Max took his silence as a negative answer to his plea. “Please reconsider, Michael.”
Thinking of nothing else left to say, Max turned and walked back to the direction he came from, leaving Michael standing at his front doorstep studying his best friend’s fiancé.
to be continued....
A/N: A huge thank you to everyone who nominated and voted for me during the Roswell Fanatics Awards. I was so surprised that I was the Runner-up for Best Newcomer! I mean, it’s so awesome! I was, at first, stunned with the nominations. And then shocked to see my name on the final list. And now I won as Runner-up! You don’t know how flattered I feel right now. When I saw my name there, I was like; “No way! Oh my God!!!” I felt like I won an Oscar. Ok, maybe that was far-fetched but still. I think most of you know that I only came upon writing because I enjoy doing beta work. And then I started dreaming up ideas for fics and the Roswellians that I am so blessed to become friends with encouraged me to post my work. And to be recognized for it is such a great feeling. Thank you all so much.
And just for that, this will be a Dreamer chapter and I am dedicating it to everyone who has stuck with me and my stories.
P.S. I'm sorry if this is kinda sucky. I don't know what it is with this fic. I promise to write the next parts better. And watch out for the new part of Summer Light.
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 19
The wedding was beautiful. Liz was wearing a Vera Wang creation made just for her and Max looked dashing in his tux. It was a very simple affair and the love between the two shone brightly.
Maria was the maid of honor with Isabel and Karen as bridesmaids, while Andrew was the best man. Max was so fidgety before the ceremony that his dad had to pin him down on a chair with one large hand on his shoulder. He was always asking the time despite wearing a watch of his own. He started pacing the room back and forth while Liz was on the way to the small chapel that they chose together.
Diane was making sure that Liz had everything on the list. Something old: a white gold necklace from Liz’s Grandma Claudia. Something new: her wedding gown. Something borrowed: Her own diamond earrings. And something blue: the garter that Karen got for Liz.
The girls were all wearing blue gowns in different shades and their friends who saw the couple knew that it was going to be one picture perfect family.
As Liz walked down the aisle with Jeff right beside her, she was glowing with happiness. And Max knew the feeling because he was in that state too. His smile was brimming with love for the woman walking toward him.
As they exchanged their vows, it was quite obvious to anyone that Max was truly in love with Liz. And Michael was one of the people who witnessed it.
He sat beside the Parkers along with his parents as his best friend married the actor. What Max said stung him. This is Liz’s day and if he was a true friend, he would support her all the way. Maria was actually surprised when Michael showed up all dressed to accompany her to the wedding. She was so proud of her boyfriend for doing this for their best friend.
When the priest told Max that he may kiss his bride, he did just that. But it lasted longer. Liz already felt embarrassed and tried to pull away but Max wouldn’t let go. He caressed her face and kissed her so lovingly. Laughter filled the small chapel when Max finally pulled away for air.
The reception was held at the Delucas’ backyard. They had a huge lot and it was a garden reception. Amy always thought of Liz as a second daughter and was more than happy to have her reception held in her home.
And despite the problem with Michael, Maria made sure that the staff of Tabasco would be the one to cater for the occasion. Their employees knew Liz as well and they were happy to be a part of the celebration.
As Max and Liz danced the night away, Michael decided it was time to cut in.
“May I have this dance?” Michael asked.
“Sure.” Max gave him a small smile and a nod and walked towards Liz’s parents.
“Hey.” Michael began.
“Hey.”
“You look great.”
“Thanks.”
“Look Liz, I’m really sorry.”
Liz shook her head. “Forget it. I’m just glad you’re here.”
“No, I have to say this. I’m sorry for the way I behaved. I should have been more supportive. It’s just…you know how I always saw you as my little sister and I guess I was so protective of you that I didn’t see how happy he made you. And I’m sorry for causing you all that hurt. If it makes you feel any better, I was hurt too. The three musketeers don’t really work with just two members.”
Liz smiled. “I understand what you were trying to do. And I’m grateful that I have you on my side. But I can take care of myself. And if there comes a time that I can’t anymore, I’ll know who to call.”
“I’m just happy that you’re happy. And I’m sorry for almost ruining your moment.”
“Enough apologies. Let’s dance.”
The reception was a huge party, and everyone enjoyed themselves. The food was great and the event was a true joyous celebration. When Liz threw her bouquet, Isabel and Karen and Maria clamored for it the most. But Isabel was determined to win it. After all, she was getting married next so she had to have it. When the time for Max to throw the garter came, he just walked up to Alex and handed it to him, knowing that the both of them will be clobbered by Isabel if Alex didn’t catch it.
Max and Liz were on their way to Phuket, Thailand for their honeymoon. Liz was so excited and so was Max since it was both their first time to visit the place. Max booked them an ocean view royal suite at the Le Royal Meridien Phuket Yacht Club in Nai Harn Beach, one of the most popular beaches in Phuket. And the hotel was one of the most luxurious accommodations in the country.
As soon as the plane landed, Liz was so giddy with excitement. A limo was already waiting for them to whisk them away to their haven for the week. Once they arrived, they were quickly ushered to their room due to the risk that Max might get recognized. He wanted to enjoy this time with Liz alone. And he was willing to pay extra for the security that the hotel promised him.
Their designated butler opened the doors for them and got their bags quickly as Liz walked into the lavish room, savoring the Asian feel of the place. There were tropical fruits and canapés ready for them and chilled champagne as a welcoming treat. She went to the bedroom and saw that the king-sized bed was covered in silk linens. She headed into the bathroom and saw a huge tub filled with water and rose petals and on the counter were various aromatherapy oils. Visions of how she and Max will enjoy those flashed in her mind.
She walked back out to the main area to see Max tipping the butler and informing him that they will call when they require his services which Liz assumed would be hardly if at all.
Then she saw the terrace.
“Oh my God.” she whispered. She was standing behind one of the lounge chairs looking out to the clear blue ocean and the white sandy beach.
Max sauntered quietly behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Liz leaned back comfortably on his hard sculpted chest.
“Isn’t this just too beautiful for words?” Liz spoke reverently.
“No, you’re too beautiful for words.” Max whispered in her left ear then nipped it seductively.
“Mmmmm.” Liz just moaned.
“What do you want to do today?” Max asked.
“Hmm, maybe go for a swim?”
“A swim?” Max sounded disappointed.
“Yeah. Well, you asked.” Then Liz turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She started playing with his nape that Max just loved and found so arousing whenever she did that.
“What would you rather we do, Max?” Liz spoke with a playful tone.
“I would rather make love to my wife.” And with that, Max scooped Liz up in her arms, making her squeal. He carried her to the bedroom and deposited her on the bed. He followed her quickly and proceeded to remove her clothing. While Max was undressing Liz, she was undressing him. In less than 10 minutes, both of them were kissing and fully naked.
He wanted this to go slow. He wanted to savor every inch of her skin, every tender touch and every minute of her orgasm. And he was going to do just that.
Max kissed her mouth so passionately. Then when the need for air came, he pulled away reluctantly. His kissed traveled to her cheek, her neck, her throat, down to the valley of her breasts.
Liz was squirming in anticipation, breathing hard. Max was doing things she loved, she craved, she desired with a passion.
Max moved down to her stomach, placing small kisses on her belly where their baby lay. Then he moved even lower.
Liz quickly arched her hips up to Max as he started tasting her.
“Oh God, Max!”
He kept lapping at her throughout her climax.
As Liz came down from her high, she was panting for air.
“Oh wow.” she whispered.
“You can say that again.” Max loved watching her going through orgasm.
“Max, you haven’t—”
Max silenced her with a kiss.
“It’s ok. That was enough for me…for now.” He winked at his wife.
Max knew Liz was so exhausted from the trip. Her drooping eyelids were blatant indications.
“Sleep now, my love.” Max whispered.
“No, what about you?”
“Don’t worry about me. We have our entire lives to do this.”
“Even when we’re old and wrinkled?” Liz murmured as she drifted off to sleep.
“Even in the next life.” Max soon joined her in dreamland.
to be continued....
And just for that, this will be a Dreamer chapter and I am dedicating it to everyone who has stuck with me and my stories.
P.S. I'm sorry if this is kinda sucky. I don't know what it is with this fic. I promise to write the next parts better. And watch out for the new part of Summer Light.
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 19
The wedding was beautiful. Liz was wearing a Vera Wang creation made just for her and Max looked dashing in his tux. It was a very simple affair and the love between the two shone brightly.
Maria was the maid of honor with Isabel and Karen as bridesmaids, while Andrew was the best man. Max was so fidgety before the ceremony that his dad had to pin him down on a chair with one large hand on his shoulder. He was always asking the time despite wearing a watch of his own. He started pacing the room back and forth while Liz was on the way to the small chapel that they chose together.
Diane was making sure that Liz had everything on the list. Something old: a white gold necklace from Liz’s Grandma Claudia. Something new: her wedding gown. Something borrowed: Her own diamond earrings. And something blue: the garter that Karen got for Liz.
The girls were all wearing blue gowns in different shades and their friends who saw the couple knew that it was going to be one picture perfect family.
As Liz walked down the aisle with Jeff right beside her, she was glowing with happiness. And Max knew the feeling because he was in that state too. His smile was brimming with love for the woman walking toward him.
As they exchanged their vows, it was quite obvious to anyone that Max was truly in love with Liz. And Michael was one of the people who witnessed it.
He sat beside the Parkers along with his parents as his best friend married the actor. What Max said stung him. This is Liz’s day and if he was a true friend, he would support her all the way. Maria was actually surprised when Michael showed up all dressed to accompany her to the wedding. She was so proud of her boyfriend for doing this for their best friend.
When the priest told Max that he may kiss his bride, he did just that. But it lasted longer. Liz already felt embarrassed and tried to pull away but Max wouldn’t let go. He caressed her face and kissed her so lovingly. Laughter filled the small chapel when Max finally pulled away for air.
The reception was held at the Delucas’ backyard. They had a huge lot and it was a garden reception. Amy always thought of Liz as a second daughter and was more than happy to have her reception held in her home.
And despite the problem with Michael, Maria made sure that the staff of Tabasco would be the one to cater for the occasion. Their employees knew Liz as well and they were happy to be a part of the celebration.
As Max and Liz danced the night away, Michael decided it was time to cut in.
“May I have this dance?” Michael asked.
“Sure.” Max gave him a small smile and a nod and walked towards Liz’s parents.
“Hey.” Michael began.
“Hey.”
“You look great.”
“Thanks.”
“Look Liz, I’m really sorry.”
Liz shook her head. “Forget it. I’m just glad you’re here.”
“No, I have to say this. I’m sorry for the way I behaved. I should have been more supportive. It’s just…you know how I always saw you as my little sister and I guess I was so protective of you that I didn’t see how happy he made you. And I’m sorry for causing you all that hurt. If it makes you feel any better, I was hurt too. The three musketeers don’t really work with just two members.”
Liz smiled. “I understand what you were trying to do. And I’m grateful that I have you on my side. But I can take care of myself. And if there comes a time that I can’t anymore, I’ll know who to call.”
“I’m just happy that you’re happy. And I’m sorry for almost ruining your moment.”
“Enough apologies. Let’s dance.”
The reception was a huge party, and everyone enjoyed themselves. The food was great and the event was a true joyous celebration. When Liz threw her bouquet, Isabel and Karen and Maria clamored for it the most. But Isabel was determined to win it. After all, she was getting married next so she had to have it. When the time for Max to throw the garter came, he just walked up to Alex and handed it to him, knowing that the both of them will be clobbered by Isabel if Alex didn’t catch it.
Max and Liz were on their way to Phuket, Thailand for their honeymoon. Liz was so excited and so was Max since it was both their first time to visit the place. Max booked them an ocean view royal suite at the Le Royal Meridien Phuket Yacht Club in Nai Harn Beach, one of the most popular beaches in Phuket. And the hotel was one of the most luxurious accommodations in the country.
As soon as the plane landed, Liz was so giddy with excitement. A limo was already waiting for them to whisk them away to their haven for the week. Once they arrived, they were quickly ushered to their room due to the risk that Max might get recognized. He wanted to enjoy this time with Liz alone. And he was willing to pay extra for the security that the hotel promised him.
Their designated butler opened the doors for them and got their bags quickly as Liz walked into the lavish room, savoring the Asian feel of the place. There were tropical fruits and canapés ready for them and chilled champagne as a welcoming treat. She went to the bedroom and saw that the king-sized bed was covered in silk linens. She headed into the bathroom and saw a huge tub filled with water and rose petals and on the counter were various aromatherapy oils. Visions of how she and Max will enjoy those flashed in her mind.
She walked back out to the main area to see Max tipping the butler and informing him that they will call when they require his services which Liz assumed would be hardly if at all.
Then she saw the terrace.
“Oh my God.” she whispered. She was standing behind one of the lounge chairs looking out to the clear blue ocean and the white sandy beach.
Max sauntered quietly behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Liz leaned back comfortably on his hard sculpted chest.
“Isn’t this just too beautiful for words?” Liz spoke reverently.
“No, you’re too beautiful for words.” Max whispered in her left ear then nipped it seductively.
“Mmmmm.” Liz just moaned.
“What do you want to do today?” Max asked.
“Hmm, maybe go for a swim?”
“A swim?” Max sounded disappointed.
“Yeah. Well, you asked.” Then Liz turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She started playing with his nape that Max just loved and found so arousing whenever she did that.
“What would you rather we do, Max?” Liz spoke with a playful tone.
“I would rather make love to my wife.” And with that, Max scooped Liz up in her arms, making her squeal. He carried her to the bedroom and deposited her on the bed. He followed her quickly and proceeded to remove her clothing. While Max was undressing Liz, she was undressing him. In less than 10 minutes, both of them were kissing and fully naked.
He wanted this to go slow. He wanted to savor every inch of her skin, every tender touch and every minute of her orgasm. And he was going to do just that.
Max kissed her mouth so passionately. Then when the need for air came, he pulled away reluctantly. His kissed traveled to her cheek, her neck, her throat, down to the valley of her breasts.
Liz was squirming in anticipation, breathing hard. Max was doing things she loved, she craved, she desired with a passion.
Max moved down to her stomach, placing small kisses on her belly where their baby lay. Then he moved even lower.
Liz quickly arched her hips up to Max as he started tasting her.
“Oh God, Max!”
He kept lapping at her throughout her climax.
As Liz came down from her high, she was panting for air.
“Oh wow.” she whispered.
“You can say that again.” Max loved watching her going through orgasm.
“Max, you haven’t—”
Max silenced her with a kiss.
“It’s ok. That was enough for me…for now.” He winked at his wife.
Max knew Liz was so exhausted from the trip. Her drooping eyelids were blatant indications.
“Sleep now, my love.” Max whispered.
“No, what about you?”
“Don’t worry about me. We have our entire lives to do this.”
“Even when we’re old and wrinkled?” Liz murmured as she drifted off to sleep.
“Even in the next life.” Max soon joined her in dreamland.
to be continued....
A/N: Thanks for still reading this you guys. I'll really try my best to post as often as I can. There's still about 10 more chapters left.
Kaz: The Thailand honeymoon was perfect for them wasn’t it? It’s a real place though, the hotel. I had to research it because I don’t know where they could go and would fit the story. I thought Thailand would be exotic enough and would give Max the privacy he wanted. Plus, it’s not as used as other places like Hawaii.
Behrsgirl77: Thanks for loving my Max. And as for waterworks…you know I always have angst in my fics.
roswellian504: I know it was short. I’m really sorry. But I promise I’ll make up for it.
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 20
When Liz woke up, she felt a protective arm draped across her stomach. She turned her head to see Max sleeping soundly. She twisted her entire body carefully to face him. That’s where she stayed until he woke up, just staring at her beautiful husband.
When Max opened his eyelids, the first thing he saw were Liz’s doe brown eyes gazing up at him.
“Good morning.” Liz spoke softly.
Max smiled and kissed his wife passionately which she returned with fervor. But when Liz’s stomach rumbled, they pulled apart and laughed.
“I guess the baby’s hungry.” Liz said.
“We’re sorry, baby. Daddy’s going to call room service right now just for you.” Max gave Liz’s belly a quick peck then moved off the bed to make the call.
He dialed room service and ordered breakfast for the both of them. It consisted of pancakes, sausages, eggs, bacon, hash browns, more tropical fruits, milk and orange juice.
“The milk is for you.” Max told Liz when he got back in bed.
Liz stuck her tongue out, pretending to gag.
“Hey, that’s good for you both.” Max chuckled.
“I know, but it tastes—” Liz quickly covered her mouth with one hand and ran for the bathroom.
Max first thought she was joking but when she quickly leapt off the bed, he knew it was another bout of morning sickness. He ran after his wife and helped by gathering her hair away from her face as she dry heaved over the toilet bowl.
When she was done, Max gently wiped her face with a wet towel. Then he saw the tears in her eyes.
“Hey, what is it?”
“That hurt.” Liz sniffled.
“What does, baby?”
”Trying to throw up with an empty stomach.”
Max hugged her and rubbed circles on her back. “Sshhh, the food will be here soon. C’mon, let’s get you back to bed.”
Liz took the plush robe hanging from the rack and wrapped herself in it. Max also wore the other one in case the butler came in with their food. Then he carried his wife back to bed and just sat beside her.
There was a quick knock on their door. “Room service.”
Max opened the door and let the butler in. The butler rolled in the tray of food and Max got his wallet to give the man some tip.
In the afternoon, Max and Liz decided to take a stroll along the beach.
“This is just breathtaking.” Liz spoke.
“Not as breathtaking as you.”
Liz sighed, “Will you stop that? I’m serious. Don’t you think this place is just divine? Thank you for bringing me here. I’ll never forget this.”
“You better. This is our honeymoon. If you forget our time here, I’m obviously doing something wrong.” Then he scooped her up in his arms and ran to the ocean.
“Max, no!” Liz squealed.
Max went straight in the water with Liz still in his arms.
When they broke through the surface, Liz was still clinging to him.
“I can’t believe you did that!” Liz slapped his shoulder playfully.
“It was fun wasn’t it?” He asked as they bobbed up and down along with the waves.
“No comment.” Liz bit her lip to hide her smile.
“C’mon, where’s you spontaneity?”
‘I wasn’t thinking of that. I’m thinking more of how we’re going to walk back in the hotel soaking wet.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.”
“I got an idea. We could make love on the sand while we lay our clothes out to dry under the sun.” Max wiggled his eyebrows for emphasis.
“Max!”
Max just laughed and started kissing his wife lovingly.
They spent a wonderful time in Phuket. They went snorkeling, scuba diving, strolling along the shoreline, having picnics on other secluded beaches, watching the sunset on their terrace, shopping at the small stores on the island, eating exotic Asian cuisine and making love all the time.
Unfortunately, during those times that they were out of the hotel, pictures of them were taken. By next morning, those photos were splattered in every newspaper, tabloid and magazine back in the US.
When they arrived at the airport, they were met with a mob of photographers and reporters trying to get the latest scoop on Max Evans and his girl.
“Max!”
“Mr. Evans!”
“Miss Parker!”
Max was shocked and he quickly shielded Liz as they tried to walk out to their car.
“Max, what is this?” Liz asked with a hint of fear in her voice.
“I’m assuming they all know by now.”
They walked as fast as they could to the parking lot but due to the people getting in their way, it was at a very slow pace.
Cameras were being shoved in their faces. One photographer was constantly trying to get pictures of Liz by moving directly in front of her.
This caused Max’s protective streak and anger to flare.
“Get the hell away from my wife!” he yelled as he propelled the man away.
When Max made that announcement involuntarily, more reporters wanted to know where and when they got married, where they spent their honeymoon; they all wanted to know everything that happened down to the littlest detail. More pictures were taken of the couple and Max tried his best to drive away as soon as he and Liz got in the car. If only running them over wasn’t a crime, he wouldn’t even hesitate about it.
“Are you ok?” Max gripped Liz’s hand in his while the other took hold of the steering wheel.
“Yeah.” Liz nodded numbly.
Max turned his head to look at his wife briefly. Then he placed his hand on her stomach.
“Is the baby…”
“We’re fine, Max.”
Max entwined his fingers with Liz’s once more and raised her knuckles to his lips, kissing them softly.
“It just wasn’t like this before, things weren’t as heated as this.” Liz commented.
“It’ll die down soon.”
“I hope so.”
By the time Max and Liz got home, entertainment news shows had video clips of them at the airport and the report that Max Evans was indeed married.
Isabel quickly called Max as soon as she saw them on TV.
“Hey, welcome home.”
“Yeah, welcome home.” Max bit out sarcastically.
“I’m sorry. Did you have a great time in Phuket though?”
“Yeah, Liz loved it.”
“Speaking of Liz, how is she?”
“Tired, she’s already asleep. The trip really exhausted her, not to mention that incident at the airport.”
“About that, what are you going to do?”
“Nothing except to lie low until it dies down and they move on to the next new thing.”
“Ok. Go ahead and get some sleep, bro.”
“Thanks. Talk to you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, Max.”
“Night, Iz.”
to be continued....
Kaz: The Thailand honeymoon was perfect for them wasn’t it? It’s a real place though, the hotel. I had to research it because I don’t know where they could go and would fit the story. I thought Thailand would be exotic enough and would give Max the privacy he wanted. Plus, it’s not as used as other places like Hawaii.
Behrsgirl77: Thanks for loving my Max. And as for waterworks…you know I always have angst in my fics.
roswellian504: I know it was short. I’m really sorry. But I promise I’ll make up for it.
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 20
When Liz woke up, she felt a protective arm draped across her stomach. She turned her head to see Max sleeping soundly. She twisted her entire body carefully to face him. That’s where she stayed until he woke up, just staring at her beautiful husband.
When Max opened his eyelids, the first thing he saw were Liz’s doe brown eyes gazing up at him.
“Good morning.” Liz spoke softly.
Max smiled and kissed his wife passionately which she returned with fervor. But when Liz’s stomach rumbled, they pulled apart and laughed.
“I guess the baby’s hungry.” Liz said.
“We’re sorry, baby. Daddy’s going to call room service right now just for you.” Max gave Liz’s belly a quick peck then moved off the bed to make the call.
He dialed room service and ordered breakfast for the both of them. It consisted of pancakes, sausages, eggs, bacon, hash browns, more tropical fruits, milk and orange juice.
“The milk is for you.” Max told Liz when he got back in bed.
Liz stuck her tongue out, pretending to gag.
“Hey, that’s good for you both.” Max chuckled.
“I know, but it tastes—” Liz quickly covered her mouth with one hand and ran for the bathroom.
Max first thought she was joking but when she quickly leapt off the bed, he knew it was another bout of morning sickness. He ran after his wife and helped by gathering her hair away from her face as she dry heaved over the toilet bowl.
When she was done, Max gently wiped her face with a wet towel. Then he saw the tears in her eyes.
“Hey, what is it?”
“That hurt.” Liz sniffled.
“What does, baby?”
”Trying to throw up with an empty stomach.”
Max hugged her and rubbed circles on her back. “Sshhh, the food will be here soon. C’mon, let’s get you back to bed.”
Liz took the plush robe hanging from the rack and wrapped herself in it. Max also wore the other one in case the butler came in with their food. Then he carried his wife back to bed and just sat beside her.
There was a quick knock on their door. “Room service.”
Max opened the door and let the butler in. The butler rolled in the tray of food and Max got his wallet to give the man some tip.
In the afternoon, Max and Liz decided to take a stroll along the beach.
“This is just breathtaking.” Liz spoke.
“Not as breathtaking as you.”
Liz sighed, “Will you stop that? I’m serious. Don’t you think this place is just divine? Thank you for bringing me here. I’ll never forget this.”
“You better. This is our honeymoon. If you forget our time here, I’m obviously doing something wrong.” Then he scooped her up in his arms and ran to the ocean.
“Max, no!” Liz squealed.
Max went straight in the water with Liz still in his arms.
When they broke through the surface, Liz was still clinging to him.
“I can’t believe you did that!” Liz slapped his shoulder playfully.
“It was fun wasn’t it?” He asked as they bobbed up and down along with the waves.
“No comment.” Liz bit her lip to hide her smile.
“C’mon, where’s you spontaneity?”
‘I wasn’t thinking of that. I’m thinking more of how we’re going to walk back in the hotel soaking wet.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.”
“I got an idea. We could make love on the sand while we lay our clothes out to dry under the sun.” Max wiggled his eyebrows for emphasis.
“Max!”
Max just laughed and started kissing his wife lovingly.
They spent a wonderful time in Phuket. They went snorkeling, scuba diving, strolling along the shoreline, having picnics on other secluded beaches, watching the sunset on their terrace, shopping at the small stores on the island, eating exotic Asian cuisine and making love all the time.
Unfortunately, during those times that they were out of the hotel, pictures of them were taken. By next morning, those photos were splattered in every newspaper, tabloid and magazine back in the US.
When they arrived at the airport, they were met with a mob of photographers and reporters trying to get the latest scoop on Max Evans and his girl.
“Max!”
“Mr. Evans!”
“Miss Parker!”
Max was shocked and he quickly shielded Liz as they tried to walk out to their car.
“Max, what is this?” Liz asked with a hint of fear in her voice.
“I’m assuming they all know by now.”
They walked as fast as they could to the parking lot but due to the people getting in their way, it was at a very slow pace.
Cameras were being shoved in their faces. One photographer was constantly trying to get pictures of Liz by moving directly in front of her.
This caused Max’s protective streak and anger to flare.
“Get the hell away from my wife!” he yelled as he propelled the man away.
When Max made that announcement involuntarily, more reporters wanted to know where and when they got married, where they spent their honeymoon; they all wanted to know everything that happened down to the littlest detail. More pictures were taken of the couple and Max tried his best to drive away as soon as he and Liz got in the car. If only running them over wasn’t a crime, he wouldn’t even hesitate about it.
“Are you ok?” Max gripped Liz’s hand in his while the other took hold of the steering wheel.
“Yeah.” Liz nodded numbly.
Max turned his head to look at his wife briefly. Then he placed his hand on her stomach.
“Is the baby…”
“We’re fine, Max.”
Max entwined his fingers with Liz’s once more and raised her knuckles to his lips, kissing them softly.
“It just wasn’t like this before, things weren’t as heated as this.” Liz commented.
“It’ll die down soon.”
“I hope so.”
By the time Max and Liz got home, entertainment news shows had video clips of them at the airport and the report that Max Evans was indeed married.
Isabel quickly called Max as soon as she saw them on TV.
“Hey, welcome home.”
“Yeah, welcome home.” Max bit out sarcastically.
“I’m sorry. Did you have a great time in Phuket though?”
“Yeah, Liz loved it.”
“Speaking of Liz, how is she?”
“Tired, she’s already asleep. The trip really exhausted her, not to mention that incident at the airport.”
“About that, what are you going to do?”
“Nothing except to lie low until it dies down and they move on to the next new thing.”
“Ok. Go ahead and get some sleep, bro.”
“Thanks. Talk to you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, Max.”
“Night, Iz.”
to be continued....
A/N: Sorry for the long wait. I tried, I really did.
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 21
As the days wore on, Max and Liz were constantly hounded by the paparazzi. Everywhere they went, the press was right behind them. Isabel was already insisting on hiring a bodyguard for them but Max didn’t want anyone hovering over him and Liz. Then Isabel used the Liz-angle, telling Max that Liz will still be harassed by photographers and reporters even if he wasn’t there because she is after all his wife. That made Max reconsider hiring some protection. But then it was Liz who didn’t want it.
“Liz, please. I’m just scared for you.” Max said.
“I know, but I don’t want someone following me around like a puppy everywhere I go.”
“Hmm, you’re right. You already have me for that.” Max chuckled.
“You got it, Mister.” Liz’s eyes sparkled with mirth.
“Oh, so that’s what I am to you now?” Max slowly moved towards her, like a hunter stalking his prey.
“Y-yes, that’s right.” Liz started backing away.
“Really.” Max inched closer and closer.
Liz continued to look at him as she moved around the spare bedroom, her hands behind her back, feeling around for the door. Once she touched the doorknob, her face lit up, ready to take flight before Max pounced.
But she was too late. Max anticipated what she was going to do. Before she could even turn the knob, he quickly moved and slammed the door with his palms, trapping Liz in the process.
“You can’t get away from me that easily.” Max’s gaze darkened with love and lust.
“I can’t?” Liz whispered as she pressed her body close to her husband’s.
“Liz, don’t you know that you’re not supposed to play with fire.” Max spoke huskily.
“Hmm, I didn’t know that.” Liz lightly bit his earlobe.
“Oh God…” Max couldn’t help it anymore. He quickly pulled his wife to him and kissed her passionately.
Soon they were making love on the floor of the spare bedroom. Max didn’t know what happened, one minute they were thinking of how the room will look as their baby’s nursery and then they were writhing in orgasm the next.
Liz couldn’t decide what theme she wanted for the nursery. Since they didn’t know what they were having yet, Liz wanted it to be suitable for either a boy or a girl.
She started looking at the designs of the huge catalog given to her by Max’s architect but she didn’t feel like it. She wanted to be the one going to the stores looking for something to get for their baby. She didn’t want to have everything done for her. Although she knew that Max was only looking out for her, she wanted them to do these things together; shopping for baby furniture, assembling the crib, buying baby clothes….
Of course it was hard to go out especially with the press following them around everywhere. But Liz was insistent on having a normal life…well, as normal as it can get. She knew what she was getting herself into when she married Max.
Max found her surrounded by blue prints and floor plans and looking lost. He crept behind her, sat down quietly and wrapped his arms around her.
“Hey.” Liz leaned back on his chest.
“Why do you look so glum?” Max asked as he laid his chin on her shoulder.
“Why do we have to let some interior designer do this for us? I mean…can’t we do this on our own? Wouldn’t you want to go around shopping for our baby’s things? I want to be able to tell our child what we had to go through to get the stuff for him or her. You know, like arguing whether we should get pink or blue onesies, or choosing between teddy bears, rubber duckies, rocking horses; the works.”
Max smiled at the prospect of having to go around town showing off his wife and their growing child in her womb. Despite all the chaos that occurs whenever they were out in public, it pleased him to no end that this gorgeous woman chose to be with him. And though he planned this in the beginning to further his popularity and his career, having her in his life now has proved to be worth more than anything he ever bought or won.
“Are you sure you want that? I don’t mind doing everything you mentioned but not at the expense of you being hounded and surrounded by all those paparazzi. Honestly, I’m afraid of whatever harm they could do to you and our baby.”
“Max, we’ll be fine. As long as I have you beside me, I’ll be ok.”
“Alright then.” He placed a peck on her cheek. “But, we will have to hire a bodyguard, just in case.”
“Ok.”
True enough, Max and Liz enjoyed going shopping for their baby’s things. Liz wanted to get a white crib but Max wanted a dark mahogany one with a white sheer canopy. Liz wanted to buy a cute little stuffed lamb but Max wanted a humongous teddy bear. There were so many things they agreed and disagreed on. But since Max would do anything and everything for his Elizabeth, she got whatever she wanted.
“Max, don’t you think that will scare the baby? Imagine waking up in a dark room with those beady eyes staring at you.” Liz admonished.
“Fine.” Max dropped the bear with a pout. And then he saw something else and he instantly lit up and ran to it like a little boy let loose in a toy store.
“But we are going to get this.” He was standing beside a rocking carousel horse complete with the gold pole and ribbons.
“Oh Max, that is so…exquisite.” Liz ran her hands along the smooth surface, loving the sight of the colorful ribbons.
“I knew you would agree with me on this. I can just imagine our little one spending hours on this thing, laughing and giggling.”
Max had a faraway look in his eyes and Liz just stared at him lovingly.
But as they enjoyed that moment, another picture was taken. By the next day, anyone who read the entertainment section knew that Max and Liz are expecting a baby.
It was a Sunday and another family luncheon was scheduled but Max and Liz had an appointment with their doctor before heading over to the Evans’ home.
“You know…we could just skip the family get-together and head on home right after this.” Max suggested.
“Max, you know your mom is expecting all of us to be there. This is the only time she gets to see you. The least we could do is show up.” Liz spoke as Max helped her into the hospital gown.
“I know.” Max sighed. “It’s just so boring and Andrew’s going to be there too.”
“What is this thing you have going on with your brother? He seems ok to me.”
“You don’t know him. And I don’t want him anywhere near us.”
“But why?”
“Because he’s hell bent on ruining my life.” Then he added in his head, ‘And he would do just that if he lets you know what I have done in the past.’
“Why do you say that?”
“It’s just the way between him and me. We don’t get along and I don’t like ruining a perfectly wonderful day that we could spend alone…in our bedroom.” He started to kiss her and when she responded, he deepened it.
But then they quickly pulled away from each other when someone cleared her throat. Liz swiftly opened her eyes and pushed Max away, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment.
“Uh hi.” Liz’s voice was an octave higher, causing her to bite her lower lip when she heard her own tone.
“Hello Liz, Max. How are you feeling today?” Dr. Laurie Dupree motioned for Liz to sit on the gurney. She began to do a routine physical check-up then asked Liz to lie down so she could check the baby.
She put on her stethoscope once more to listen to the heartbeat. At first she was smiling at the couple, especially after seeing how they were very much in love. And then her smile turned into a pensive frown.
Both Max and Liz saw this and they looked at each other before turning back to the doctor. Max squeezed Liz’s hand to soothe her, signaling that he will take care of everything.
“What’s going on, Doc?” Max asked.
“I’m not sure. I think we should do an ultrasound.”
“Is there something wrong with our baby?” Liz voiced out her fear.
“Let’s just check before we jump to conclusions, ok? There’s no need to worry though.” Dr. Dupree informed her.
She wheeled in the ultrasound device beside Liz and raised the gown to expose her growing belly.
Liz turned to look at Max and he gave her a reassuring smile then placed a loving kiss on her forehead.
The doctor spread some of the liquid on Liz’s stomach then put the smaller device on top of it. Echoes of overlapping heartbeats filled the room.
“Is that…?” Max quickly asked.
“Yes, that’s your baby’s heartbeat.” Dr. Dupree replied.
“Is that normal? I mean, it’s so fast.” Max commented.
“Yes, don’t worry. Babies have really high heart rates.
“But why does it sound different?” Liz spoke softly.
“That’s what I want to find out. I have a hunch as to what it might be, but I want to be sure.” The doctor switched on the screen and the image of their child filled it.
“Oh my god.” Liz whispered as she saw her baby for the first time, tears began to fill her eyes.
Max chuckled as his emotions overwhelmed him. “That’s…that’s…” He looked at Liz and kissed her with all the love he possessed.
“I knew it.” The doctor’s voice broke through the lovers’ haze.
“What?” The couple asked.
“Look.” Dr. Dupree gave a quick nod in the direction of the monitor.
There they saw two heads, two bodies, two pairs of arms, two pairs of legs, two pairs of eyes and two mouths.
They were having twins.
“T-twins? We’re having twins? We’re having twins! OH MY GOD! WE’RE HAVING TWINS!” Max’s voice got louder and louder. He raised Liz’s hand that was captured in his and kissed it. Then he leaned down and kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her nose and her lips.
“Baby, can you believe this? We’re having twins!” Max felt like he was on top of the world. Not only were they expecting one child, but two, two babies. He couldn’t wait for them to be born.
Liz only laughed at her husband and how ecstatic he was. She couldn’t stop the tears of joy from spilling down the sides of her face.
“Do you want me to print out some pictures for you to take home?” Max’s happiness was infectious and Laurie couldn’t help but be happy for the married couple. She was pleased that there were still some men in this world who felt that strongly about becoming a father.
“Can we?” Max asked.
“Of course, let me just set it up for you.”
Max and Liz were on their way to the family luncheon but not once has he let go of her hand. He was in perfect bliss and he couldn’t wait to tell his family about it.
Once he parked the car, Max told Liz to wait and he raced to her side and opened the door for her. As soon as she was out, he pulled her close to him and kissed her hard.
“I love you.” Max locked eyes with her.
“I love you too.” Liz responded.
“This is forever, right? You and me, no matter what.”
Liz nodded, “You and me, we’re stuck with each other.”
“And I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Max hugged her fiercely. “I love you so much, Liz.”
Liz hugged him back with all the love she had stored for him for all those years.
“Hey, you two.” Alex yelled to them as Max and Liz walked out to the backyard where the Evans family was having a barbecue.
“Max. Lizzie.” Diane greeted as she kissed her children on the cheek.
“You look like the cat that swallowed the canary, son.” Philip told Max.
“What’s with you, Max? You’re practically floating on air.” Isabel noticed the glow that the couple had. Seeing them made her want to get married…now.
“Spit it out, Max.” Andrew coaxed.
“If you insist.” Max started then he sat down on a chair and pulled Liz on his lap, encircling his arms around her and laying his palms on her womb where his children lay.
“Well? What is it?” Karen was getting eager.
“Well…” Max lingered.
“What?!?” Everybody chorused.
Max looked at Liz and grinned. Liz nodded, giving him permission to announce their big news.
“We’re having twins!” Max was beaming; he couldn’t erase the smile on his face even if it killed him.
“Twins?!”
“Oh my God!”
“Max!”
“Liz!”
“That’s wonderful!”
The entire family congratulated the couple with smiles and hugs and they all looked at the ultrasound prints. Every one was so happy for them. Before long, the Evans will have two more new additions to their family to love and play with. Along with Max and Liz, they could hardly wait.
to be continued....
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 21
As the days wore on, Max and Liz were constantly hounded by the paparazzi. Everywhere they went, the press was right behind them. Isabel was already insisting on hiring a bodyguard for them but Max didn’t want anyone hovering over him and Liz. Then Isabel used the Liz-angle, telling Max that Liz will still be harassed by photographers and reporters even if he wasn’t there because she is after all his wife. That made Max reconsider hiring some protection. But then it was Liz who didn’t want it.
“Liz, please. I’m just scared for you.” Max said.
“I know, but I don’t want someone following me around like a puppy everywhere I go.”
“Hmm, you’re right. You already have me for that.” Max chuckled.
“You got it, Mister.” Liz’s eyes sparkled with mirth.
“Oh, so that’s what I am to you now?” Max slowly moved towards her, like a hunter stalking his prey.
“Y-yes, that’s right.” Liz started backing away.
“Really.” Max inched closer and closer.
Liz continued to look at him as she moved around the spare bedroom, her hands behind her back, feeling around for the door. Once she touched the doorknob, her face lit up, ready to take flight before Max pounced.
But she was too late. Max anticipated what she was going to do. Before she could even turn the knob, he quickly moved and slammed the door with his palms, trapping Liz in the process.
“You can’t get away from me that easily.” Max’s gaze darkened with love and lust.
“I can’t?” Liz whispered as she pressed her body close to her husband’s.
“Liz, don’t you know that you’re not supposed to play with fire.” Max spoke huskily.
“Hmm, I didn’t know that.” Liz lightly bit his earlobe.
“Oh God…” Max couldn’t help it anymore. He quickly pulled his wife to him and kissed her passionately.
Soon they were making love on the floor of the spare bedroom. Max didn’t know what happened, one minute they were thinking of how the room will look as their baby’s nursery and then they were writhing in orgasm the next.
Liz couldn’t decide what theme she wanted for the nursery. Since they didn’t know what they were having yet, Liz wanted it to be suitable for either a boy or a girl.
She started looking at the designs of the huge catalog given to her by Max’s architect but she didn’t feel like it. She wanted to be the one going to the stores looking for something to get for their baby. She didn’t want to have everything done for her. Although she knew that Max was only looking out for her, she wanted them to do these things together; shopping for baby furniture, assembling the crib, buying baby clothes….
Of course it was hard to go out especially with the press following them around everywhere. But Liz was insistent on having a normal life…well, as normal as it can get. She knew what she was getting herself into when she married Max.
Max found her surrounded by blue prints and floor plans and looking lost. He crept behind her, sat down quietly and wrapped his arms around her.
“Hey.” Liz leaned back on his chest.
“Why do you look so glum?” Max asked as he laid his chin on her shoulder.
“Why do we have to let some interior designer do this for us? I mean…can’t we do this on our own? Wouldn’t you want to go around shopping for our baby’s things? I want to be able to tell our child what we had to go through to get the stuff for him or her. You know, like arguing whether we should get pink or blue onesies, or choosing between teddy bears, rubber duckies, rocking horses; the works.”
Max smiled at the prospect of having to go around town showing off his wife and their growing child in her womb. Despite all the chaos that occurs whenever they were out in public, it pleased him to no end that this gorgeous woman chose to be with him. And though he planned this in the beginning to further his popularity and his career, having her in his life now has proved to be worth more than anything he ever bought or won.
“Are you sure you want that? I don’t mind doing everything you mentioned but not at the expense of you being hounded and surrounded by all those paparazzi. Honestly, I’m afraid of whatever harm they could do to you and our baby.”
“Max, we’ll be fine. As long as I have you beside me, I’ll be ok.”
“Alright then.” He placed a peck on her cheek. “But, we will have to hire a bodyguard, just in case.”
“Ok.”
True enough, Max and Liz enjoyed going shopping for their baby’s things. Liz wanted to get a white crib but Max wanted a dark mahogany one with a white sheer canopy. Liz wanted to buy a cute little stuffed lamb but Max wanted a humongous teddy bear. There were so many things they agreed and disagreed on. But since Max would do anything and everything for his Elizabeth, she got whatever she wanted.
“Max, don’t you think that will scare the baby? Imagine waking up in a dark room with those beady eyes staring at you.” Liz admonished.
“Fine.” Max dropped the bear with a pout. And then he saw something else and he instantly lit up and ran to it like a little boy let loose in a toy store.
“But we are going to get this.” He was standing beside a rocking carousel horse complete with the gold pole and ribbons.
“Oh Max, that is so…exquisite.” Liz ran her hands along the smooth surface, loving the sight of the colorful ribbons.
“I knew you would agree with me on this. I can just imagine our little one spending hours on this thing, laughing and giggling.”
Max had a faraway look in his eyes and Liz just stared at him lovingly.
But as they enjoyed that moment, another picture was taken. By the next day, anyone who read the entertainment section knew that Max and Liz are expecting a baby.
It was a Sunday and another family luncheon was scheduled but Max and Liz had an appointment with their doctor before heading over to the Evans’ home.
“You know…we could just skip the family get-together and head on home right after this.” Max suggested.
“Max, you know your mom is expecting all of us to be there. This is the only time she gets to see you. The least we could do is show up.” Liz spoke as Max helped her into the hospital gown.
“I know.” Max sighed. “It’s just so boring and Andrew’s going to be there too.”
“What is this thing you have going on with your brother? He seems ok to me.”
“You don’t know him. And I don’t want him anywhere near us.”
“But why?”
“Because he’s hell bent on ruining my life.” Then he added in his head, ‘And he would do just that if he lets you know what I have done in the past.’
“Why do you say that?”
“It’s just the way between him and me. We don’t get along and I don’t like ruining a perfectly wonderful day that we could spend alone…in our bedroom.” He started to kiss her and when she responded, he deepened it.
But then they quickly pulled away from each other when someone cleared her throat. Liz swiftly opened her eyes and pushed Max away, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment.
“Uh hi.” Liz’s voice was an octave higher, causing her to bite her lower lip when she heard her own tone.
“Hello Liz, Max. How are you feeling today?” Dr. Laurie Dupree motioned for Liz to sit on the gurney. She began to do a routine physical check-up then asked Liz to lie down so she could check the baby.
She put on her stethoscope once more to listen to the heartbeat. At first she was smiling at the couple, especially after seeing how they were very much in love. And then her smile turned into a pensive frown.
Both Max and Liz saw this and they looked at each other before turning back to the doctor. Max squeezed Liz’s hand to soothe her, signaling that he will take care of everything.
“What’s going on, Doc?” Max asked.
“I’m not sure. I think we should do an ultrasound.”
“Is there something wrong with our baby?” Liz voiced out her fear.
“Let’s just check before we jump to conclusions, ok? There’s no need to worry though.” Dr. Dupree informed her.
She wheeled in the ultrasound device beside Liz and raised the gown to expose her growing belly.
Liz turned to look at Max and he gave her a reassuring smile then placed a loving kiss on her forehead.
The doctor spread some of the liquid on Liz’s stomach then put the smaller device on top of it. Echoes of overlapping heartbeats filled the room.
“Is that…?” Max quickly asked.
“Yes, that’s your baby’s heartbeat.” Dr. Dupree replied.
“Is that normal? I mean, it’s so fast.” Max commented.
“Yes, don’t worry. Babies have really high heart rates.
“But why does it sound different?” Liz spoke softly.
“That’s what I want to find out. I have a hunch as to what it might be, but I want to be sure.” The doctor switched on the screen and the image of their child filled it.
“Oh my god.” Liz whispered as she saw her baby for the first time, tears began to fill her eyes.
Max chuckled as his emotions overwhelmed him. “That’s…that’s…” He looked at Liz and kissed her with all the love he possessed.
“I knew it.” The doctor’s voice broke through the lovers’ haze.
“What?” The couple asked.
“Look.” Dr. Dupree gave a quick nod in the direction of the monitor.
There they saw two heads, two bodies, two pairs of arms, two pairs of legs, two pairs of eyes and two mouths.
They were having twins.
“T-twins? We’re having twins? We’re having twins! OH MY GOD! WE’RE HAVING TWINS!” Max’s voice got louder and louder. He raised Liz’s hand that was captured in his and kissed it. Then he leaned down and kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her nose and her lips.
“Baby, can you believe this? We’re having twins!” Max felt like he was on top of the world. Not only were they expecting one child, but two, two babies. He couldn’t wait for them to be born.
Liz only laughed at her husband and how ecstatic he was. She couldn’t stop the tears of joy from spilling down the sides of her face.
“Do you want me to print out some pictures for you to take home?” Max’s happiness was infectious and Laurie couldn’t help but be happy for the married couple. She was pleased that there were still some men in this world who felt that strongly about becoming a father.
“Can we?” Max asked.
“Of course, let me just set it up for you.”
Max and Liz were on their way to the family luncheon but not once has he let go of her hand. He was in perfect bliss and he couldn’t wait to tell his family about it.
Once he parked the car, Max told Liz to wait and he raced to her side and opened the door for her. As soon as she was out, he pulled her close to him and kissed her hard.
“I love you.” Max locked eyes with her.
“I love you too.” Liz responded.
“This is forever, right? You and me, no matter what.”
Liz nodded, “You and me, we’re stuck with each other.”
“And I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Max hugged her fiercely. “I love you so much, Liz.”
Liz hugged him back with all the love she had stored for him for all those years.
“Hey, you two.” Alex yelled to them as Max and Liz walked out to the backyard where the Evans family was having a barbecue.
“Max. Lizzie.” Diane greeted as she kissed her children on the cheek.
“You look like the cat that swallowed the canary, son.” Philip told Max.
“What’s with you, Max? You’re practically floating on air.” Isabel noticed the glow that the couple had. Seeing them made her want to get married…now.
“Spit it out, Max.” Andrew coaxed.
“If you insist.” Max started then he sat down on a chair and pulled Liz on his lap, encircling his arms around her and laying his palms on her womb where his children lay.
“Well? What is it?” Karen was getting eager.
“Well…” Max lingered.
“What?!?” Everybody chorused.
Max looked at Liz and grinned. Liz nodded, giving him permission to announce their big news.
“We’re having twins!” Max was beaming; he couldn’t erase the smile on his face even if it killed him.
“Twins?!”
“Oh my God!”
“Max!”
“Liz!”
“That’s wonderful!”
The entire family congratulated the couple with smiles and hugs and they all looked at the ultrasound prints. Every one was so happy for them. Before long, the Evans will have two more new additions to their family to love and play with. Along with Max and Liz, they could hardly wait.
to be continued....
Chapter 22
As soon as Max and Liz announced that they were expecting twins to the Evans, they called the Parkers right after.
“Mom, Mom! Calm down.” Liz spoke on the phone.
“I can’t believe it! When did you find out?” Nancy asked.
“Just today.”
“This is great news, Liz.” Jeff also exclaimed over the speaker phone.
“I know.” Liz was beaming.
“How are you and Max?”
“We’re ok. Still reeling.” Max leaned over to speak as well.
“That must have been a shocker,” Jeff laughed.
“Well, I must admit it was, even though I am a twin myself.” Max chuckled.
“So when are you both coming over to visit?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Dad. I have a ton of work to do and—”
“Actually…” Max looked at Liz. “Maybe you could come over to visit us instead. I could send you both the plane tickets and you don’t have to worry about accommodations because you’ll be staying at our house. Lord knows we have more than enough rooms.” Max smiled.
Liz was surprised. She just sat there and stared at her husband while Max and her parents discussed their travel plans. When she recovered from the shock, she quickly kissed Max on the cheek. Then she leaned over to whisper in his ear, “There’ll be more of that for you later.”
Max groaned inwardly as his grip on Liz’s waist tightened.
“Dad! Mom!” Liz greeted and waved at her parents as they walked out of the terminal.
“Lizzie!” The trio hugged each other tightly.
“Max.” Jeff shook Max’s hand then surprised him by pulling the young man for a brief hug.
“Hello, Max.” Nancy did the same and hugged her son-in-law.
“Hi, Jeff. Hello, Nancy.” Max greeted back. “How was your trip?”
“It was ok. It was short enough so it wasn’t as tiring as we thought it would be.” Jeff answered.
“Ok, we’re heading over to Tabasco. Michael has been slaving over a stove all day. When we told him that you were coming over for a visit, he made me promise to bring you there as soon as you were out of the airport.” Liz and her mom walked hand in hand toward the parking lot and Max’s black BMW X5.
Max quickly loaded their bags in the back and helped Liz into the passenger seat. Then he went to the driver’s side and got in.
“I can’t wait to see Michael and Maria’s restaurant.” Jeff commented.
“Oh Dad, Michael is so worried that you might not approve of it. After all, when you gave him that job at the Crashdown, that’s where he realized his passion for cooking.” Liz replied.
“I’m sure it’s a lovely place and the food is superb.” Nancy said.
“Oh it is. It’s one of the classiest and hippest restaurant in L.A. My twin sister Isabel loves the food and the ambiance.” Max spoke.
When they arrived at Tabasco, Max had the SUV valet parked. He held on to Liz as they went inside the establishment.
“Mr. and Mrs. Evans, your table is right this way.” The receptionist instantly recognized them and ushered them to the ‘VIP only’ section of the place.
Max pulled out Liz’s seat for her while Jeff did the same for Nancy. The Parkers saw that Max truly loved and worshipped their daughter and they couldn’t be happier that Liz married the man.
“Mr. and Mrs. P!” Maria squealed as she rushed out of the kitchen and straight to their table. She gave them a kiss on their cheeks and started jabbering immediately.
“I’m so glad you’re here. Michael is too but he’s still in the kitchen. You know how he gets, Mr. P. Anyway, he’s both excited and nervous that you’re here. Ohmygosh, have you seen Liz’s belly? No wonder she’s getting so big, no offense, Chica. She’s carrying twins…” Maria kept on talking animatedly.
“Is she really like that all the time?” Max leaned sideways and whispered to Liz.
Liz only nodded in response.
Then Michael came out with a few waiters behind him carrying their food.
“Hi Mr. and Mrs. Parker.” Michael gave the two a quick hug.
“Hello Michael.” Nancy and Jeff smiled wistfully. They recalled how Michael was such a rebel back when he was still in Roswell during his teen years. And now that he’s grown, he has become a different man, responsible, caring, loyal…and slightly mature.
“So, what do you think, Mr. P?” Michael was wringing his apron in anticipation over what his mentor would say about all his hard work.
“It’s great, Michael. I’m really proud of you.” Jeff placed an arm on the younger man’s shoulders. The Guerins, Parkers, and Delucas have been close. So when their children became the best of friends, it didn’t come as a surprise. Jeff and Nancy considered Michael and Maria like their own, just the way their parents considered Liz like one of their child too.
“Thanks.” Michael was both relieved and embarrassed at being complimented. “Well, let’s all sit and eat. I know Liz is already drooling.”
Liz gasped and threw her napkin at him.
“Liz.” Jeff reprimanded his daughter with a look.
Liz immediately stopped and glared at Michael as he stuck his tongue out at her while Jeff wasn’t looking. Unfortunately for him, Nancy saw it.
“Alright, children. Let’s all settle down and dig in. This looks really scrumptious, Michael. You must have poured a lot of effort to make this meal.”
“Anything for my fave employers.” Everyone was smiling and laughing while they enjoyed their meal.
After they arrived home, Max and Liz showed Jeff and Nancy to their room and then retired to their own master suite to rest.
“Oh God, I’m stuffed. I can barely move.” Max said as he fell back on their bed.
“I know what you mean.” Liz spoke as she crept under the sheets beside her husband and laying one hand on her belly.
“Max?” Liz turned her head to gaze at Max.
“Hmm?” Max replied with his eyes still closed.
“Thank you.”
Max quickly opened his eyes, “For what?”
“For bringing my parents here.”
“Anything for you, my love.” He took her hand and kissed the back of it adoringly.
While the Parkers were in Los Angeles, Nancy and Liz often went out to do some baby shopping with Max and Jeff tagging along sometimes. But today, it was just the mother and daughter tandem since Jeff and Max decided to go back to that toy shop where Max saw the carousel horse.
“So what theme have you decided on?” Nancy questioned.
“Max and I were thinking about the moon and stars since the colors would be blue and yellow. I mean, we don’t know what we’re having yet but I have a strong feeling that it’s going to be a boy and a girl.” Liz responded.
“Well, a mother’s instinct is always right. I still can’t believe you’re going to be a mom, Lizzie. My baby is having her own babies. And I still remember the day your dad and I brought you home from the hospital after you were born.”
“Mom, don’t. Please. If you start reminiscing, it’s going to make me cry. I cry over everything now, even the TV shows. And they’re not even heavy drama.”
“It’s your hormones, sweetie.”
“I know, but they’re so out of whack.”
“It’ll be ok, Liz. You’ll be hearing yourself say that everything was worth it once you have your little bundles of joy in your arms.”
“I know, Mom. I can’t wait for these little ones to be born already.”
The two continued to shop, going around looking for more baby items. Liz was able to buy some blue and yellow onesies, a few baby socks and some baby booties.
Max and Jeff on the other hand were busy with the floor plans, looking it over and talking to the architect that would renovate the room. The first order of business was to tear down the wall that was separating the master suite from the would-be nursery. Max thought that t would be better to put in a couple of sliding French doors instead. That way, there could still be some distinction between the two rooms but it won’t be blocking the view from their children.
Basically, that was the only major renovation that needed to be done. The spare room already has a huge bay window that they will turn into a window seat. Lighting fixtures have to be re-arranged, depending on where the cribs will be placed and the babies’ little nook where they can play. And the only thing left to do after that would be the redecorating.
However, Max and Liz have already agreed to decorate the nursery on their own. And while Liz’s parents are in town, Max has more free time to tend to the construction of the room. So far, everything has been going according to schedule. Max has allotted an entire month to finish the renovation, repainting, electrical rewiring, etc.
As the time passed, Liz was beginning to show more. The press has been having a field day with every development happening to the Evans couple, resulting to the constant paparazzi appearing wherever they go; parties, premieres, shopping trips and so on.
After a few weeks have passed, the nursery was finally complete. The colors of the room were blue and yellow. Moon and star shapes were scattered everywhere. There were the two white round cribs; one had yellow bedding and the other had blue. The drawers, cabinets, baby changer, kiddie table and chairs had the light blue and light yellow colors and small stars and moon shapes as accents, handles and knobs. Nightlights and sconces in the forms of stars and moons were placed on walls. The room was also filled with stuffed animals; there were teddy bears, yellow ducks, bunnies, unicorns, lambs, puppies, kittens and even a giraffe. Most of them came from their friends and some were given by Max’s fans too. Of course, the carousel horse was in the far corner of the room. There was a white glider for Liz and several children’s books filled the built-in bookcase. All together, it was a baby’s dream nursery and Max spared no expense to make sure that his children got the best of everything.
to be continued....
As soon as Max and Liz announced that they were expecting twins to the Evans, they called the Parkers right after.
“Mom, Mom! Calm down.” Liz spoke on the phone.
“I can’t believe it! When did you find out?” Nancy asked.
“Just today.”
“This is great news, Liz.” Jeff also exclaimed over the speaker phone.
“I know.” Liz was beaming.
“How are you and Max?”
“We’re ok. Still reeling.” Max leaned over to speak as well.
“That must have been a shocker,” Jeff laughed.
“Well, I must admit it was, even though I am a twin myself.” Max chuckled.
“So when are you both coming over to visit?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Dad. I have a ton of work to do and—”
“Actually…” Max looked at Liz. “Maybe you could come over to visit us instead. I could send you both the plane tickets and you don’t have to worry about accommodations because you’ll be staying at our house. Lord knows we have more than enough rooms.” Max smiled.
Liz was surprised. She just sat there and stared at her husband while Max and her parents discussed their travel plans. When she recovered from the shock, she quickly kissed Max on the cheek. Then she leaned over to whisper in his ear, “There’ll be more of that for you later.”
Max groaned inwardly as his grip on Liz’s waist tightened.
“Dad! Mom!” Liz greeted and waved at her parents as they walked out of the terminal.
“Lizzie!” The trio hugged each other tightly.
“Max.” Jeff shook Max’s hand then surprised him by pulling the young man for a brief hug.
“Hello, Max.” Nancy did the same and hugged her son-in-law.
“Hi, Jeff. Hello, Nancy.” Max greeted back. “How was your trip?”
“It was ok. It was short enough so it wasn’t as tiring as we thought it would be.” Jeff answered.
“Ok, we’re heading over to Tabasco. Michael has been slaving over a stove all day. When we told him that you were coming over for a visit, he made me promise to bring you there as soon as you were out of the airport.” Liz and her mom walked hand in hand toward the parking lot and Max’s black BMW X5.
Max quickly loaded their bags in the back and helped Liz into the passenger seat. Then he went to the driver’s side and got in.
“I can’t wait to see Michael and Maria’s restaurant.” Jeff commented.
“Oh Dad, Michael is so worried that you might not approve of it. After all, when you gave him that job at the Crashdown, that’s where he realized his passion for cooking.” Liz replied.
“I’m sure it’s a lovely place and the food is superb.” Nancy said.
“Oh it is. It’s one of the classiest and hippest restaurant in L.A. My twin sister Isabel loves the food and the ambiance.” Max spoke.
When they arrived at Tabasco, Max had the SUV valet parked. He held on to Liz as they went inside the establishment.
“Mr. and Mrs. Evans, your table is right this way.” The receptionist instantly recognized them and ushered them to the ‘VIP only’ section of the place.
Max pulled out Liz’s seat for her while Jeff did the same for Nancy. The Parkers saw that Max truly loved and worshipped their daughter and they couldn’t be happier that Liz married the man.
“Mr. and Mrs. P!” Maria squealed as she rushed out of the kitchen and straight to their table. She gave them a kiss on their cheeks and started jabbering immediately.
“I’m so glad you’re here. Michael is too but he’s still in the kitchen. You know how he gets, Mr. P. Anyway, he’s both excited and nervous that you’re here. Ohmygosh, have you seen Liz’s belly? No wonder she’s getting so big, no offense, Chica. She’s carrying twins…” Maria kept on talking animatedly.
“Is she really like that all the time?” Max leaned sideways and whispered to Liz.
Liz only nodded in response.
Then Michael came out with a few waiters behind him carrying their food.
“Hi Mr. and Mrs. Parker.” Michael gave the two a quick hug.
“Hello Michael.” Nancy and Jeff smiled wistfully. They recalled how Michael was such a rebel back when he was still in Roswell during his teen years. And now that he’s grown, he has become a different man, responsible, caring, loyal…and slightly mature.
“So, what do you think, Mr. P?” Michael was wringing his apron in anticipation over what his mentor would say about all his hard work.
“It’s great, Michael. I’m really proud of you.” Jeff placed an arm on the younger man’s shoulders. The Guerins, Parkers, and Delucas have been close. So when their children became the best of friends, it didn’t come as a surprise. Jeff and Nancy considered Michael and Maria like their own, just the way their parents considered Liz like one of their child too.
“Thanks.” Michael was both relieved and embarrassed at being complimented. “Well, let’s all sit and eat. I know Liz is already drooling.”
Liz gasped and threw her napkin at him.
“Liz.” Jeff reprimanded his daughter with a look.
Liz immediately stopped and glared at Michael as he stuck his tongue out at her while Jeff wasn’t looking. Unfortunately for him, Nancy saw it.
“Alright, children. Let’s all settle down and dig in. This looks really scrumptious, Michael. You must have poured a lot of effort to make this meal.”
“Anything for my fave employers.” Everyone was smiling and laughing while they enjoyed their meal.
After they arrived home, Max and Liz showed Jeff and Nancy to their room and then retired to their own master suite to rest.
“Oh God, I’m stuffed. I can barely move.” Max said as he fell back on their bed.
“I know what you mean.” Liz spoke as she crept under the sheets beside her husband and laying one hand on her belly.
“Max?” Liz turned her head to gaze at Max.
“Hmm?” Max replied with his eyes still closed.
“Thank you.”
Max quickly opened his eyes, “For what?”
“For bringing my parents here.”
“Anything for you, my love.” He took her hand and kissed the back of it adoringly.
While the Parkers were in Los Angeles, Nancy and Liz often went out to do some baby shopping with Max and Jeff tagging along sometimes. But today, it was just the mother and daughter tandem since Jeff and Max decided to go back to that toy shop where Max saw the carousel horse.
“So what theme have you decided on?” Nancy questioned.
“Max and I were thinking about the moon and stars since the colors would be blue and yellow. I mean, we don’t know what we’re having yet but I have a strong feeling that it’s going to be a boy and a girl.” Liz responded.
“Well, a mother’s instinct is always right. I still can’t believe you’re going to be a mom, Lizzie. My baby is having her own babies. And I still remember the day your dad and I brought you home from the hospital after you were born.”
“Mom, don’t. Please. If you start reminiscing, it’s going to make me cry. I cry over everything now, even the TV shows. And they’re not even heavy drama.”
“It’s your hormones, sweetie.”
“I know, but they’re so out of whack.”
“It’ll be ok, Liz. You’ll be hearing yourself say that everything was worth it once you have your little bundles of joy in your arms.”
“I know, Mom. I can’t wait for these little ones to be born already.”
The two continued to shop, going around looking for more baby items. Liz was able to buy some blue and yellow onesies, a few baby socks and some baby booties.
Max and Jeff on the other hand were busy with the floor plans, looking it over and talking to the architect that would renovate the room. The first order of business was to tear down the wall that was separating the master suite from the would-be nursery. Max thought that t would be better to put in a couple of sliding French doors instead. That way, there could still be some distinction between the two rooms but it won’t be blocking the view from their children.
Basically, that was the only major renovation that needed to be done. The spare room already has a huge bay window that they will turn into a window seat. Lighting fixtures have to be re-arranged, depending on where the cribs will be placed and the babies’ little nook where they can play. And the only thing left to do after that would be the redecorating.
However, Max and Liz have already agreed to decorate the nursery on their own. And while Liz’s parents are in town, Max has more free time to tend to the construction of the room. So far, everything has been going according to schedule. Max has allotted an entire month to finish the renovation, repainting, electrical rewiring, etc.
As the time passed, Liz was beginning to show more. The press has been having a field day with every development happening to the Evans couple, resulting to the constant paparazzi appearing wherever they go; parties, premieres, shopping trips and so on.
After a few weeks have passed, the nursery was finally complete. The colors of the room were blue and yellow. Moon and star shapes were scattered everywhere. There were the two white round cribs; one had yellow bedding and the other had blue. The drawers, cabinets, baby changer, kiddie table and chairs had the light blue and light yellow colors and small stars and moon shapes as accents, handles and knobs. Nightlights and sconces in the forms of stars and moons were placed on walls. The room was also filled with stuffed animals; there were teddy bears, yellow ducks, bunnies, unicorns, lambs, puppies, kittens and even a giraffe. Most of them came from their friends and some were given by Max’s fans too. Of course, the carousel horse was in the far corner of the room. There was a white glider for Liz and several children’s books filled the built-in bookcase. All together, it was a baby’s dream nursery and Max spared no expense to make sure that his children got the best of everything.
to be continued....
Chapter 23
Liz was well into her seventh month and her belly was huge. Her doctor didn’t think she will be able to carry the twins to term since she was so small. An average woman carrying twins sometimes don’t make it to the full nine months. For someone with Liz’s size, that was a certainty.
But here she was, still going on, still pregnant. However, Max would barely let her out of the house in fear that something bad might happen to her and their babies. And as per the findings of Dr. Dupree, she was definitely going to have a C-section when the time comes.
So while Liz was cooped up in their house, she spent countless hours doing anything she could get her hands on for her babies. She did some needlepoint work: knitting, cross stitching, and crocheting. She also made some arts and crafts projects she learned from books. She read endless articles about baby care and parenting. And she also immersed herself in baby name books.
Max was also staying at home ever since Liz went into her third trimester. When the doctor told them that there was a risk for the twins to be born prematurely, Max got scared and vowed to be by Liz’s side all the time.
However, it infuriated Liz. Now that she was in her nesting stage, fussing and cleaning every room in their house, it irked her to no end whenever Max would stop her from whatever she was thinking of doing before she could even start.
But despite all of it, she knew that Max was doing all of those because he loved her. And she loved him back for it.
The doorbell rang and Liz was in the kitchen while Max was in the shower. So being the closest one to the front door, she walked over to open it. She peered into the peephole first then saw a woman standing on the other side. Without even thinking about it, she opened the door, forgetting that it might be the paparazzi.
“Yes? How can I help you?”
A blonde curvy woman looked at her from head to toe. And with a raised eyebrow, she asked for Max.
“Uh, I’m sorry but he can’t come out right now—”
“Are you his wife?” the woman asked, her eyes narrowing at Liz’s pregnant belly.
“Yes.”
“Oh good, then you can tell him that I need to talk to him about our son.”
Liz felt like the wind has been knocked out of her lungs. “Your…your what?!”
“O-u-r…s-o-n.” She said slowly, mocking Liz like she was speaking to a young child.
“Liz, who’s at—” Max came down the stairs to look for his wife. Seeing that she was standing in the doorway, he went to stand beside her.
“Max!” The woman greeted him with a huge smile plastered on her face.
“Uh…excuse me?” Max looked from the woman to Liz, noticing how his wife looked so pale.
“Don’t you remember me? You certainly knew me back then when we were having so much fun.” Pam sneered as she lowered her gaze to Max’s groin. “Tell me, did you buy a new bed for your wife? Or do you still have that same one we used?”
“What?! Who the hell are you?” Max bellowed.
“Oh come on. Surely you haven’t forgotten li’l ol’ me, Pam Troy. How could you have forgotten my name when you used to scream it out a lot?” Pam batted her eyelashes at him, completely ignoring the fact that Liz was still standing there.
However, Max was already attending to his wife and ignoring the woman who claimed to have known him…intimately. For the life of him, he couldn’t remember her. But then he did sleep with a lot of women before but still…. This wasn’t good for his marriage.
“Liz?”
Liz stood there in shock, the numbness seeping through her entire being.
“Lizzie?” Max was carefully prying her fingers from the door as she was gripping it so hard.
Seeing that Liz wasn’t moving, he turned back to the other person furiously.
“Look, whoever you are, I suggest you leave these premises before I call the cops!” Max towered over her.
Pam ran her hand over his chiseled chest, “Max, how could you talk that way to me? Me, the mother of your child.”
“WHAT?!” Max yelled and pushed her hand away.
“No.” Liz whispered but Max heard her anyway.
“Yes, Max. We have a child together. A son.” The she looked at Liz who was still rooted at the same spot behind Max, “Do you know how many women your husband has slept with? No? Well, he slept with a lot, trust me. Everything you read about him before was completely true. I know, I had a first hand experience.” Turning back to face Max, “I guess if I knew that you would marry any woman you’d impregnate, I would have come to you sooner.”
“You bitch! Get out! Get the hell out of here!” He quickly turned back to Liz and ushered her back in their house before slamming the door in Pam’s face.
“You better be a whole lot nicer when I come back with our baby, Max! Or you’ll be sorry!” Pam huffed as she walked back to where she came from.
“Liz?” Max was kneeling in front of her after he sat her down on the couch. Liz’s frozen look was scaring him. He knew it wasn’t good for their children and he didn’t know what to do to get her to respond.
“Liz? Please, talk to me.”
“How could you?” Liz spoke softly.
“What? Liz, no. I don’t even know her.”
“Was it true?”
“What?”
“How many?”
“What are you talking about?”
“How many women, Max?” Liz’s voice was getting louder.
“Liz, I—”
“Tell me!”
“Liz…”
Liz was already sobbing at this point as she covered her face with her hands. ‘How could I have been so naïve?’
“Liz, please. That woman, I don’t even know—”
“Was she lying?” Liz challenged, quickly facing Max.
Max couldn’t answer.
“Was she lying?!”
He couldn’t look at her weeping face. She is the love of his life, his wife, the one woman he ever made love with and the ONLY mother of his children. He could feel her hurt. He could feel her pain. And he couldn’t do anything about it.
“Why won’t you answer me?!” Liz screamed.
“Because…because I don’t know what to say to you.” Max said.
“What do you mean…? You don’t know what to say?! How about the truth, Max?! Tell me the truth!”
“I…I…” Max stammered, he knew that once everything came out, that will be the end of his marriage.
“You what, huh? She wasn’t lying, was she? She was telling the truth, right?” Liz pressed on.
“Liz, stop.” Max pleaded.
“JUST ANSWER ME!”
Max slumped his shoulders in defeat. “It’s true.” he whispered.
Liz started to cry once more. “Were they all before me?”
Max looked at her helplessly and his eyes gave her the answer.
“Oh God…” Liz clutched her belly. “No…”
“Liz.”
“No.” Liz kept shaking her had from left to right as she started to back away from her husband.
“How could you… How could you do this to me? You said you loved me. Was that a lie too?”
“No! Liz—”
“Why me? Why did you have to choose me?” Liz’s voice broke with despair.
“Because I fell in love with you.” Max was crying too.
“No, you don’t love me. You never loved me! If you did, you wouldn’t have done this!”
“Liz.”
“No! I want to know how many!”
“Liz, don’t do this.”
“I want to know!”
“I…I don’t know…”
Silence echoed through the room before Liz started to laugh.
“You don’t know…. Oh my God, you don’t know….” Liz continued to laugh through her tears. “So tell me, Max, should I expect more women to come knocking at the door and claim to have your children? Might as well get everything out in the open now!”
“No, Liz. You’re the only woman I ever made love to, the only woman that’s bearing my children.”
“Then tell me why she claimed to have your son?!”
“I don’t know.”
“Stop saying that!”
Max fell on his knees and wrapped his arms around Liz’s protruding womb. “Liz, I don’t know her. You have to believe me.”
“How can you even ask me to believe you when all this time, you’ve done nothing but lie to me! Our whole relationship is based on a lie! Our marriage is based on a lie!”
“Liz, please.”
“Let me go.” Liz struggled to escape from his hold.
“I can’t.”
“Let me go! Stop touching me!” Liz began to fight against him.
“Liz.” Max finally loosened his grip on her, the same time that Liz gave one fierce shove away from him.
What occurred next would haunt Max forever. Liz stumbled back and fell to the floor. Max saw everything as if it was happening in slow motion and he couldn’t move fast enough to catch her.
“LIZ!” Max called out, then rushed to her side.
“Liz? Lizzie.” He cradled her head on his lap and brushed away her hair to peer at her face etched with both physical and emotional anguish.
“Help.” Liz whimpered as she looked at Max’s panic-stricken face.
“What? Tell me, what’s wrong?” Max terror rose at the sound of her voice.
“The babies…” Those were Liz’s last words before the blackness came.
to be continued....
A/N: (peeks in) Hi. Thanks for all the feedback. And, um...I guess this was the part you've all been waiting for. Ok, bye. (runs out before things start flying)
Liz was well into her seventh month and her belly was huge. Her doctor didn’t think she will be able to carry the twins to term since she was so small. An average woman carrying twins sometimes don’t make it to the full nine months. For someone with Liz’s size, that was a certainty.
But here she was, still going on, still pregnant. However, Max would barely let her out of the house in fear that something bad might happen to her and their babies. And as per the findings of Dr. Dupree, she was definitely going to have a C-section when the time comes.
So while Liz was cooped up in their house, she spent countless hours doing anything she could get her hands on for her babies. She did some needlepoint work: knitting, cross stitching, and crocheting. She also made some arts and crafts projects she learned from books. She read endless articles about baby care and parenting. And she also immersed herself in baby name books.
Max was also staying at home ever since Liz went into her third trimester. When the doctor told them that there was a risk for the twins to be born prematurely, Max got scared and vowed to be by Liz’s side all the time.
However, it infuriated Liz. Now that she was in her nesting stage, fussing and cleaning every room in their house, it irked her to no end whenever Max would stop her from whatever she was thinking of doing before she could even start.
But despite all of it, she knew that Max was doing all of those because he loved her. And she loved him back for it.
The doorbell rang and Liz was in the kitchen while Max was in the shower. So being the closest one to the front door, she walked over to open it. She peered into the peephole first then saw a woman standing on the other side. Without even thinking about it, she opened the door, forgetting that it might be the paparazzi.
“Yes? How can I help you?”
A blonde curvy woman looked at her from head to toe. And with a raised eyebrow, she asked for Max.
“Uh, I’m sorry but he can’t come out right now—”
“Are you his wife?” the woman asked, her eyes narrowing at Liz’s pregnant belly.
“Yes.”
“Oh good, then you can tell him that I need to talk to him about our son.”
Liz felt like the wind has been knocked out of her lungs. “Your…your what?!”
“O-u-r…s-o-n.” She said slowly, mocking Liz like she was speaking to a young child.
“Liz, who’s at—” Max came down the stairs to look for his wife. Seeing that she was standing in the doorway, he went to stand beside her.
“Max!” The woman greeted him with a huge smile plastered on her face.
“Uh…excuse me?” Max looked from the woman to Liz, noticing how his wife looked so pale.
“Don’t you remember me? You certainly knew me back then when we were having so much fun.” Pam sneered as she lowered her gaze to Max’s groin. “Tell me, did you buy a new bed for your wife? Or do you still have that same one we used?”
“What?! Who the hell are you?” Max bellowed.
“Oh come on. Surely you haven’t forgotten li’l ol’ me, Pam Troy. How could you have forgotten my name when you used to scream it out a lot?” Pam batted her eyelashes at him, completely ignoring the fact that Liz was still standing there.
However, Max was already attending to his wife and ignoring the woman who claimed to have known him…intimately. For the life of him, he couldn’t remember her. But then he did sleep with a lot of women before but still…. This wasn’t good for his marriage.
“Liz?”
Liz stood there in shock, the numbness seeping through her entire being.
“Lizzie?” Max was carefully prying her fingers from the door as she was gripping it so hard.
Seeing that Liz wasn’t moving, he turned back to the other person furiously.
“Look, whoever you are, I suggest you leave these premises before I call the cops!” Max towered over her.
Pam ran her hand over his chiseled chest, “Max, how could you talk that way to me? Me, the mother of your child.”
“WHAT?!” Max yelled and pushed her hand away.
“No.” Liz whispered but Max heard her anyway.
“Yes, Max. We have a child together. A son.” The she looked at Liz who was still rooted at the same spot behind Max, “Do you know how many women your husband has slept with? No? Well, he slept with a lot, trust me. Everything you read about him before was completely true. I know, I had a first hand experience.” Turning back to face Max, “I guess if I knew that you would marry any woman you’d impregnate, I would have come to you sooner.”
“You bitch! Get out! Get the hell out of here!” He quickly turned back to Liz and ushered her back in their house before slamming the door in Pam’s face.
“You better be a whole lot nicer when I come back with our baby, Max! Or you’ll be sorry!” Pam huffed as she walked back to where she came from.
“Liz?” Max was kneeling in front of her after he sat her down on the couch. Liz’s frozen look was scaring him. He knew it wasn’t good for their children and he didn’t know what to do to get her to respond.
“Liz? Please, talk to me.”
“How could you?” Liz spoke softly.
“What? Liz, no. I don’t even know her.”
“Was it true?”
“What?”
“How many?”
“What are you talking about?”
“How many women, Max?” Liz’s voice was getting louder.
“Liz, I—”
“Tell me!”
“Liz…”
Liz was already sobbing at this point as she covered her face with her hands. ‘How could I have been so naïve?’
“Liz, please. That woman, I don’t even know—”
“Was she lying?” Liz challenged, quickly facing Max.
Max couldn’t answer.
“Was she lying?!”
He couldn’t look at her weeping face. She is the love of his life, his wife, the one woman he ever made love with and the ONLY mother of his children. He could feel her hurt. He could feel her pain. And he couldn’t do anything about it.
“Why won’t you answer me?!” Liz screamed.
“Because…because I don’t know what to say to you.” Max said.
“What do you mean…? You don’t know what to say?! How about the truth, Max?! Tell me the truth!”
“I…I…” Max stammered, he knew that once everything came out, that will be the end of his marriage.
“You what, huh? She wasn’t lying, was she? She was telling the truth, right?” Liz pressed on.
“Liz, stop.” Max pleaded.
“JUST ANSWER ME!”
Max slumped his shoulders in defeat. “It’s true.” he whispered.
Liz started to cry once more. “Were they all before me?”
Max looked at her helplessly and his eyes gave her the answer.
“Oh God…” Liz clutched her belly. “No…”
“Liz.”
“No.” Liz kept shaking her had from left to right as she started to back away from her husband.
“How could you… How could you do this to me? You said you loved me. Was that a lie too?”
“No! Liz—”
“Why me? Why did you have to choose me?” Liz’s voice broke with despair.
“Because I fell in love with you.” Max was crying too.
“No, you don’t love me. You never loved me! If you did, you wouldn’t have done this!”
“Liz.”
“No! I want to know how many!”
“Liz, don’t do this.”
“I want to know!”
“I…I don’t know…”
Silence echoed through the room before Liz started to laugh.
“You don’t know…. Oh my God, you don’t know….” Liz continued to laugh through her tears. “So tell me, Max, should I expect more women to come knocking at the door and claim to have your children? Might as well get everything out in the open now!”
“No, Liz. You’re the only woman I ever made love to, the only woman that’s bearing my children.”
“Then tell me why she claimed to have your son?!”
“I don’t know.”
“Stop saying that!”
Max fell on his knees and wrapped his arms around Liz’s protruding womb. “Liz, I don’t know her. You have to believe me.”
“How can you even ask me to believe you when all this time, you’ve done nothing but lie to me! Our whole relationship is based on a lie! Our marriage is based on a lie!”
“Liz, please.”
“Let me go.” Liz struggled to escape from his hold.
“I can’t.”
“Let me go! Stop touching me!” Liz began to fight against him.
“Liz.” Max finally loosened his grip on her, the same time that Liz gave one fierce shove away from him.
What occurred next would haunt Max forever. Liz stumbled back and fell to the floor. Max saw everything as if it was happening in slow motion and he couldn’t move fast enough to catch her.
“LIZ!” Max called out, then rushed to her side.
“Liz? Lizzie.” He cradled her head on his lap and brushed away her hair to peer at her face etched with both physical and emotional anguish.
“Help.” Liz whimpered as she looked at Max’s panic-stricken face.
“What? Tell me, what’s wrong?” Max terror rose at the sound of her voice.
“The babies…” Those were Liz’s last words before the blackness came.
to be continued....
A/N: (peeks in) Hi. Thanks for all the feedback. And, um...I guess this was the part you've all been waiting for. Ok, bye. (runs out before things start flying)
Author's Note:
Tanya: You made me laugh with your FB, lol.
Bonnie: Yes, Max became faithful even before Liz moved in. About the scene that would haunt Max forever, it was actually seeing Liz fall. As to how Max would react, you have to read the part below. As far as feedback goes, I don’t think anyone expected him to turn out the way I wrote…well, except those that were told about the plot.
Everyone: Just a quick bit of info, Pam was mentioned in Chapter 3, I just didn’t put her name in cause it would have been obvious that she has a bigger role in this.
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 24
Max ran through the hospital doors carrying his wife’s unconscious body.
“Help! Somebody, help us, please!” Max shouted as tears streamed down his face.
A couple of nurses and a doctor rushed to his side and they started shooting questions at him after he placed Liz on the hospital bed. All of them plus a few more medical assistants joined them and wheeled Liz into the emergency room.
“Who’s your wife’s obstetrician?”
“Dr. Laurie Dupree, that’s our doctor. Please, tell her to come quick. My wife…” Max was trying his hardest to hold it together as he was being ushered out of the room unknowingly.
As he stared through the window, the paging system called for Dr. Dupree. In minutes, she came barreling down the hallway. “Max.”
Max turned quickly to look at the doctor. “Please, she’s in there. Please help her.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes. Just sit tight.” The doors swung back as Laurie disappeared behind them.
One of the nurses came out and was trying to lead him away from the doors but he wouldn’t budge.
“Please, sir. You need to go to the waiting room. You can’t be blocking the doors this way. Let’s go. You can call your family there.”
Max reluctantly agreed and allowed himself to be led away.
The clock ticked and Max was praying silently. Suddenly, the door to the waiting room flew open and there stood Isabel and Alex.
“Max.” Isabel ran to her brother and hugged him.
“How is she?” Alex asked.
“I don’t know yet.” Max mumbled.
“She’ll be fine.” Isabel gave him a small smile of reassurance. “What happened?”
At those words, Max’s eyes grew dark.
“What?” Isabel studied her twin closely.
“Do you know a…Pam Troy?”
“Troy…Troy…hmm…. Waitaminute, isn’t she that starlet I found you in bed with more than a year ago?” Her features quickly showed her curiosity as to why Max would be asking her about some other woman when his wife was hanging by the balance.
Max paled and fell back on his chair. Isabel and Alex looked at each other and then they heard Max sobbing.
“Max?” Isabel crouched down to be at eye level with him.
“This is…all my…fault.” Max sobbed.
“What is?”
“Liz and…our babies…”
“Max, I don’t understand you.” Isabel looked back at her fiancé for help.
“Max!”
All three of them looked at Diane and Philip as they went to their son hastily.
“How’s Liz?” Diane asked as she wiped Max’s tears like she did when he was a toddler.
“I don’t know yet, Mom.” Max hugged her strongly.
“She’ll be ok, Max. She and the twins will be ok.” Philip rubbed his son’s back trying to soothe away his fears.
“Dad, you have to help me.” Max begged as he turned to his father.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
“There’s…there’s this woman…she’s…she said I’m the father of her baby.”
“What?!” Everyone in the room shouted.
“Is this why you asked if I knew Pam Troy?” Isabel asked.
“Who’s Pam Troy?” Diane followed.
“Some actress that Max slept with.” Alex answered.
“You what?” Philip faced his son again.
“I knew it would catch up with you.” Andrew said calmly as he walked in the room.
“What are you talking about?” Philip turned to his eldest.
“Drew.” Isabel warned.
Andrew ignored her, “Max here, thought dating Liz would boost his popularity. And yes, that did work, while he still had his women on the side. However, he didn’t count on falling in love with Liz and now his past has come back to bite him in the ass.”
“Shut up!” Max yelled.
“Drew, stop it.” Isabel hissed.
“Did you know about this?” Diane asked Isabel.
“Yeah…but…I…” Isabel faltered.
“You knew?!” Alex looked at his fiancée with fury. “How could you allow him to do this to Liz?”
“I didn’t! I just…” Isabel tried to come up with a good reason but failed.
“Max, what happened?” Diane wanted to get to the bottom of all this.
Max took a deep breath and faced his mom. He drowned out everything else and concentrated on answering her question as he recalled the scene.
“Pam came to our house and told Liz that I was the father of her baby. Liz and I got into a fight, and then I hugged her and pleaded with her but then she was…struggling and I was scared that she might hurt herself…so, I loosened my grip. But then…then she pushed me and I already let go…. She lost her balance and she fell to the floor. When I went to her, she was in so much pain and the last she said before blacking out was, ‘our babies’.” Max was sobbing once more at the end of his story as he saw the image playing in his mind over and over.
Isabel, Andrew and Philip were silent. Diane was holding Max in her arms. And Alex was fuming.
“I don’t believe this!” Alex exploded. “You tricked her into falling in love with you and now she’s in there fighting for her life and the lives of your children because you couldn’t keep your dick in your pants!” Alex was enraged. “You and I have been friends for a long time, and when Isabel told me that you were chasing Liz, I didn’t say anything. I gave you the benefit of the doubt and stayed quiet, thinking that maybe, just maybe you found the one. I guess I overestimated you. How could you do this to her?! Whether she’s my employee or not, how could you even think of doing this to someone?! How could I be friends with someone as disgusting as you?”
“Alex.” Isabel went to grab his arm but he pulled away from her quickly.
“And you…you condoned him! I know he’s your brother, Isabel, but how could you side with him knowing what he was up to?!”
“I didn’t. I saw how he was falling in love with her. How could I stop them from being so happy?”
“Happy?! You call this happy?!”
“Alex…” Isabel looked at him. This was not their issue, how had it turned around to her?
“Not now, Isabel.” Alex marched to one of the chairs and sat as far away from the Evans as possible.
Isabel started to well up but she knew that she shouldn’t push him. For now, she had to focus on her brother. Once Alex has cooled down, they’d talk.
“Is it true?” Andrew asked.
“Is what true?” Max spoke.
“Are you the father?”
“I…I don’t know.” Max cried again. He was so scared of losing Liz. He knew that if…no, when she’s back to normal, there’s a good chance that she’d leave him. And he knew without a doubt that he would die without her.
Philip and Diane looked at each other.
“Do you know where to find this Pam?” Philip questioned.
“No, but…she said she’d come back.” Max was wiping her eyes with the back of his hand.
“What do you want to do about this?” This came from Andrew.
“I want her out of our lives.” Max began to compose himself, deciding that crying would do him no good. As the minutes passed, his stare was becoming colder and deadlier.
For a brief moment, Isabel saw the old Max, the Max who never cared about anything else but himself. But this was different, this was a Max who would do anything for Liz, and the stance he had was beginning to scare her.
“And if the baby is yours?” Isabel treaded lightly.
“I don’t care.” Max spoke in a lethally calm voice.
“Max.” Diane gasped.
“No. Liz and I and our kids are the only family I’ve got. If that kid is mine, I will give him financial support, but that is all.”
“But what if the child wants to get to know you?”
“First, let’s establish if he is the father, Isabel.” Andrew already had a plan brewing in his head. He wasn’t a top-notch lawyer for nothing.
“And if I’m not, I want to see Pam Troy dead.” Max told them coldly.
One vicious Evans was enough but with two, there would be hell to pay.
“Mr. Evans?” One of the nurses called out and Philip, Andrew and Max all turned to face her.
“What happened? Is she ok? Can I go see her now?” Max stepped forward.
“Yes. The doctor asked me to come get you.” The nurse led the Evans and Alex back to the hallway.
As soon as the doors of the Emergency Room were in sight, the nurse asked them all to wait as she went back inside.
A couple of minutes passed before Dr. Dupree came out.
“Doc?”
“They’re all ok now, Max. But this was a very dangerous incident. She’s very fragile at this point of the pregnancy. However, we were able to stabilize her condition. She needs bed rest, lots of it. If you can manage to keep her there, do so. I’ll be honest with you. It was close, Max, really close.”
“But she’s fine now, right?”
“Yes, she is, they all are.”
Max nodded and his knees wobbled. Philip caught him as he started to weep.
Dr. Dupree went back in the room to prepare to transfer Liz into a regular hospital suite.
When Liz was wheeled out, she was still asleep and her belly was still huge. Everyone followed the medical team to Liz’s room.
Philip and Diane went in first.
Andrew stayed behind to talk to Max while Alex and Isabel did the same.
“Alex, please. I’m so sorry. I was against this in the beginning…but when I saw that he was falling and I saw how happy she was and how much they loved each other, I couldn’t do anything.” Isabel said.
“You could have warned her at least, or made him stop before all this ever began.”
“I tried, I did. But—”
“But you should have tried harder.” Alex let out a sigh, “It’s too late to argue about this now. Let’s only hope that everything turns toward Max’s favor or it’s going to end up badly for them. I consider Liz as a sister too now, and I don’t want to see her hurt. We have to do everything in our power to help them.”
Isabel nodded eagerly, “Of course.” Then, looking at her fiancé, “Are you still mad at me?”
Alex softened, “Don’t you know by now that I could never stay mad at you?”
Isabel smiled as she gave him a tight hug and kissed him intensely.
When they were done making up, Isabel and Alex walked towards Liz’s room. Alex went in ahead of her when Max asked for a minute to talk to his twin.
“What do you want me to do about Troy, Max?” Isabel noticed the fury blazing in Max’s eyes.
“I want you to find that bitch and anything else you can on her. And I want her to pay for what she did to MY Elizabeth.”
to be continued...
Tanya: You made me laugh with your FB, lol.
Bonnie: Yes, Max became faithful even before Liz moved in. About the scene that would haunt Max forever, it was actually seeing Liz fall. As to how Max would react, you have to read the part below. As far as feedback goes, I don’t think anyone expected him to turn out the way I wrote…well, except those that were told about the plot.
Everyone: Just a quick bit of info, Pam was mentioned in Chapter 3, I just didn’t put her name in cause it would have been obvious that she has a bigger role in this.
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 24
Max ran through the hospital doors carrying his wife’s unconscious body.
“Help! Somebody, help us, please!” Max shouted as tears streamed down his face.
A couple of nurses and a doctor rushed to his side and they started shooting questions at him after he placed Liz on the hospital bed. All of them plus a few more medical assistants joined them and wheeled Liz into the emergency room.
“Who’s your wife’s obstetrician?”
“Dr. Laurie Dupree, that’s our doctor. Please, tell her to come quick. My wife…” Max was trying his hardest to hold it together as he was being ushered out of the room unknowingly.
As he stared through the window, the paging system called for Dr. Dupree. In minutes, she came barreling down the hallway. “Max.”
Max turned quickly to look at the doctor. “Please, she’s in there. Please help her.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes. Just sit tight.” The doors swung back as Laurie disappeared behind them.
One of the nurses came out and was trying to lead him away from the doors but he wouldn’t budge.
“Please, sir. You need to go to the waiting room. You can’t be blocking the doors this way. Let’s go. You can call your family there.”
Max reluctantly agreed and allowed himself to be led away.
The clock ticked and Max was praying silently. Suddenly, the door to the waiting room flew open and there stood Isabel and Alex.
“Max.” Isabel ran to her brother and hugged him.
“How is she?” Alex asked.
“I don’t know yet.” Max mumbled.
“She’ll be fine.” Isabel gave him a small smile of reassurance. “What happened?”
At those words, Max’s eyes grew dark.
“What?” Isabel studied her twin closely.
“Do you know a…Pam Troy?”
“Troy…Troy…hmm…. Waitaminute, isn’t she that starlet I found you in bed with more than a year ago?” Her features quickly showed her curiosity as to why Max would be asking her about some other woman when his wife was hanging by the balance.
Max paled and fell back on his chair. Isabel and Alex looked at each other and then they heard Max sobbing.
“Max?” Isabel crouched down to be at eye level with him.
“This is…all my…fault.” Max sobbed.
“What is?”
“Liz and…our babies…”
“Max, I don’t understand you.” Isabel looked back at her fiancé for help.
“Max!”
All three of them looked at Diane and Philip as they went to their son hastily.
“How’s Liz?” Diane asked as she wiped Max’s tears like she did when he was a toddler.
“I don’t know yet, Mom.” Max hugged her strongly.
“She’ll be ok, Max. She and the twins will be ok.” Philip rubbed his son’s back trying to soothe away his fears.
“Dad, you have to help me.” Max begged as he turned to his father.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
“There’s…there’s this woman…she’s…she said I’m the father of her baby.”
“What?!” Everyone in the room shouted.
“Is this why you asked if I knew Pam Troy?” Isabel asked.
“Who’s Pam Troy?” Diane followed.
“Some actress that Max slept with.” Alex answered.
“You what?” Philip faced his son again.
“I knew it would catch up with you.” Andrew said calmly as he walked in the room.
“What are you talking about?” Philip turned to his eldest.
“Drew.” Isabel warned.
Andrew ignored her, “Max here, thought dating Liz would boost his popularity. And yes, that did work, while he still had his women on the side. However, he didn’t count on falling in love with Liz and now his past has come back to bite him in the ass.”
“Shut up!” Max yelled.
“Drew, stop it.” Isabel hissed.
“Did you know about this?” Diane asked Isabel.
“Yeah…but…I…” Isabel faltered.
“You knew?!” Alex looked at his fiancée with fury. “How could you allow him to do this to Liz?”
“I didn’t! I just…” Isabel tried to come up with a good reason but failed.
“Max, what happened?” Diane wanted to get to the bottom of all this.
Max took a deep breath and faced his mom. He drowned out everything else and concentrated on answering her question as he recalled the scene.
“Pam came to our house and told Liz that I was the father of her baby. Liz and I got into a fight, and then I hugged her and pleaded with her but then she was…struggling and I was scared that she might hurt herself…so, I loosened my grip. But then…then she pushed me and I already let go…. She lost her balance and she fell to the floor. When I went to her, she was in so much pain and the last she said before blacking out was, ‘our babies’.” Max was sobbing once more at the end of his story as he saw the image playing in his mind over and over.
Isabel, Andrew and Philip were silent. Diane was holding Max in her arms. And Alex was fuming.
“I don’t believe this!” Alex exploded. “You tricked her into falling in love with you and now she’s in there fighting for her life and the lives of your children because you couldn’t keep your dick in your pants!” Alex was enraged. “You and I have been friends for a long time, and when Isabel told me that you were chasing Liz, I didn’t say anything. I gave you the benefit of the doubt and stayed quiet, thinking that maybe, just maybe you found the one. I guess I overestimated you. How could you do this to her?! Whether she’s my employee or not, how could you even think of doing this to someone?! How could I be friends with someone as disgusting as you?”
“Alex.” Isabel went to grab his arm but he pulled away from her quickly.
“And you…you condoned him! I know he’s your brother, Isabel, but how could you side with him knowing what he was up to?!”
“I didn’t. I saw how he was falling in love with her. How could I stop them from being so happy?”
“Happy?! You call this happy?!”
“Alex…” Isabel looked at him. This was not their issue, how had it turned around to her?
“Not now, Isabel.” Alex marched to one of the chairs and sat as far away from the Evans as possible.
Isabel started to well up but she knew that she shouldn’t push him. For now, she had to focus on her brother. Once Alex has cooled down, they’d talk.
“Is it true?” Andrew asked.
“Is what true?” Max spoke.
“Are you the father?”
“I…I don’t know.” Max cried again. He was so scared of losing Liz. He knew that if…no, when she’s back to normal, there’s a good chance that she’d leave him. And he knew without a doubt that he would die without her.
Philip and Diane looked at each other.
“Do you know where to find this Pam?” Philip questioned.
“No, but…she said she’d come back.” Max was wiping her eyes with the back of his hand.
“What do you want to do about this?” This came from Andrew.
“I want her out of our lives.” Max began to compose himself, deciding that crying would do him no good. As the minutes passed, his stare was becoming colder and deadlier.
For a brief moment, Isabel saw the old Max, the Max who never cared about anything else but himself. But this was different, this was a Max who would do anything for Liz, and the stance he had was beginning to scare her.
“And if the baby is yours?” Isabel treaded lightly.
“I don’t care.” Max spoke in a lethally calm voice.
“Max.” Diane gasped.
“No. Liz and I and our kids are the only family I’ve got. If that kid is mine, I will give him financial support, but that is all.”
“But what if the child wants to get to know you?”
“First, let’s establish if he is the father, Isabel.” Andrew already had a plan brewing in his head. He wasn’t a top-notch lawyer for nothing.
“And if I’m not, I want to see Pam Troy dead.” Max told them coldly.
One vicious Evans was enough but with two, there would be hell to pay.
“Mr. Evans?” One of the nurses called out and Philip, Andrew and Max all turned to face her.
“What happened? Is she ok? Can I go see her now?” Max stepped forward.
“Yes. The doctor asked me to come get you.” The nurse led the Evans and Alex back to the hallway.
As soon as the doors of the Emergency Room were in sight, the nurse asked them all to wait as she went back inside.
A couple of minutes passed before Dr. Dupree came out.
“Doc?”
“They’re all ok now, Max. But this was a very dangerous incident. She’s very fragile at this point of the pregnancy. However, we were able to stabilize her condition. She needs bed rest, lots of it. If you can manage to keep her there, do so. I’ll be honest with you. It was close, Max, really close.”
“But she’s fine now, right?”
“Yes, she is, they all are.”
Max nodded and his knees wobbled. Philip caught him as he started to weep.
Dr. Dupree went back in the room to prepare to transfer Liz into a regular hospital suite.
When Liz was wheeled out, she was still asleep and her belly was still huge. Everyone followed the medical team to Liz’s room.
Philip and Diane went in first.
Andrew stayed behind to talk to Max while Alex and Isabel did the same.
“Alex, please. I’m so sorry. I was against this in the beginning…but when I saw that he was falling and I saw how happy she was and how much they loved each other, I couldn’t do anything.” Isabel said.
“You could have warned her at least, or made him stop before all this ever began.”
“I tried, I did. But—”
“But you should have tried harder.” Alex let out a sigh, “It’s too late to argue about this now. Let’s only hope that everything turns toward Max’s favor or it’s going to end up badly for them. I consider Liz as a sister too now, and I don’t want to see her hurt. We have to do everything in our power to help them.”
Isabel nodded eagerly, “Of course.” Then, looking at her fiancé, “Are you still mad at me?”
Alex softened, “Don’t you know by now that I could never stay mad at you?”
Isabel smiled as she gave him a tight hug and kissed him intensely.
When they were done making up, Isabel and Alex walked towards Liz’s room. Alex went in ahead of her when Max asked for a minute to talk to his twin.
“What do you want me to do about Troy, Max?” Isabel noticed the fury blazing in Max’s eyes.
“I want you to find that bitch and anything else you can on her. And I want her to pay for what she did to MY Elizabeth.”
to be continued...
A/N: Here's the much awaited next chapter.
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 25
Isabel’s agency was in chaos. All of her staff was tasked to find anything and everything they can on Pam Troy. She had them find all the news and gossip about the starlet and she was giving orders left and right for her employees to interview people who knew the woman.
When Isabel came across an address where Pam might be, she decided to take a chance and headed out for a drive. She saw an old apartment building and walked up to the number indicated on the piece of paper she had in her hands. She was hoping that maybe someone was still living there who knew Pam Troy.
However, she was a bit surprised when Troy herself opened the door.
Pam looked at the woman with venom in her eyes. She knew who the other woman was and she also knew that it was Max who had sent her here in the first place.
“Is he here with you?” she asked.
“Who?”
“Max, of course. Who else?”
“No.”
“You’re wasting you’re time then.” Pam started to close the door but Isabel slapped it back open.
“So where’s your baby? The one you claim belonging to Max.”
“He’s asleep.”
“Yeah, right.” Isabel shoved Pam away and went inside.
The apartment was shabby. Clothes littered everywhere, dirty dishes on the sink and some baby bottles too. Isabel gulped at the sight of that.
Pam noticed that Isabel looked a little too long at the bottles.
“I’m not lying.” Pam sneered.
Isabel turned to face her. “We’ll see.” she challenged.
Pam’s eyes narrowed in anger. “Why don’t you tell that brother of yours that he should be spending some quality time with me and OUR son than wasting away at some hospital with that bitch.” she goaded.
Isabel was so close to slapping Pam to kingdom come but she knew that she couldn’t. Doing so would only give her more ammo to use against her family. She did feel guilty for somewhat being part of the cause of Liz’s pain. And if this is one way of being able to repay her, then she would stop at nothing to bring Pam Troy down.
“You’re lucky that my brother is already building a case against you. Otherwise, I would have beaten you up.”
“Oooh, I’m shaking.” Pam mocked.
Isabel just ignored her and headed for the door.
“Oh by the way, expect a court order for a paternity test soon.” She opened the door and left. But not before smirking at Pam’s pale face.
Isabel quickly met with her father and Andrew. They talked about the best course of action to take and when Isabel told them about the encounter she had with Pam Troy, they knew that they had the upper hand. Then Isabel’s staff came in and showed the Evans a few clippings about Troy’s escapades. All three smiled at each other.
Max slept on a chair while clutching Liz’s hand. Liz started to stir awake and when she couldn’t move her left hand, she glanced down and found Max asleep on top of her arm. Tears quickly filled her eyes as she recalled the past events. With her other hand, she touched her still protruding womb, relief seeping through her when she realized she was still carrying their twins.
Max was awakened by the shifting on the bed. He smiled brightly when he saw that Liz was finally awake.
“Lizzie.”
Liz didn’t utter a word. She simply looked at her husband.
The anguish that Max saw in her eyes pained him.
“I want to go home, Max.”
“I know, baby. We’re going home soon. I just have to get Dr. Dupree and tell her that you’re awake and—”
Liz shook her head. “No, I want to go home…to Roswell.”
“Uh…ok. We’ll go to Roswell.”
“You’re not listening to me.” Liz was getting agitated. “I want to go home, alone, by myself…without you.”
“What?” Max was taken aback.
“I can’t stay here. I can’t go home with you either.”
“Liz, what are you saying?”
“I want to go home for a while, to sort this all out.”
“You…you’re not…you’re not leaving me, are you?” The last part came out as a whisper.
Liz gazed into Max’s eyes and she saw fear in them. Max was literally very afraid of losing her.
“No.”
“Oh Liz, I’m so sorry.” Max wept and hugged her close.
“Tell me the truth, Max.”
Max pulled back and wiped his eyes, but the tears still came.
“I don’t know what to say that would not make you mad.”
“Just tell me, please. I think I deserve that much.”
Max took a deep breath, “Just know that no matter what I love you, ok?”
At Liz’s nod, he began to tell her what she wanted to know.
“I have to admit, at first I thought making you my girlfriend would boost my image.”
Liz wanted to whimper at his confession but she held it in and waited for him to continue.
“I’m sure you’ve read stuff about me and my womanizing. They’re…they’re true, Liz. I was a player. Even when you were already my girlfriend, I played around that first time I was in New York. But when I came back here, I was falling deep. And I didn’t know what was happening. When I went to New York again, I had gone out with a couple of women, but the desire wasn’t there. The thought of being intimate with them made me sick. The only image I had in my head was you, seeing you when we make love. Your face was the one that kept popping in my head. And when I came back to you the second time, I have never been with anyone else but you.”
Liz was weeping at the hurt she felt, but she also knew that she was still in love with the man before her.
“You have to understand, Liz. I have never felt anything remotely close to what I feel for you. I have never known what it was like to love someone. Ever since I got in this business, women threw themselves at me and I accepted their offers with open arms. And then you came into my life and that was when I understood what love is like, what it means to be loved for everything that I am, not just my popularity but for just being me, and most importantly, to love someone with my entire being. That’s what you brought in my life. You changed me, Liz. And having to lose you would kill me. Don’t ever leave me, Liz. You’re the only thing important in my life. I know I made mistakes in the past. But I have changed. You have to believe me. I’m so sorry for everything and I would do whatever it takes to make it up to you. Just tell me what you want me to do and I’ll do it. I love you, Liz, only you and our babies.” The desperation in Max’s voice was evident.
“I know that, Max. But I just need some time to think about things.”
“Ok.” Max said dejectedly. “How long will you be gone?”
“I…I don’t know.”
Max began to weep silently.
“Max.”
“I understand what you’re saying Liz, really, I do. But…I just can’t…”
Liz’s heart ached for him but she had to leave until she has sorted all the mess in her head. She knew, no, she felt how much Max loves her but going back to their house would only bring her more pain. So she had no other choice but to leave.
“Will…will you be coming back to me?” Max held on to her hand tightly.
As Liz’s heart and mind battled, she decided to go with an old advice from a wise woman. She decided to follow her heart.
“Always.”
As Max said goodbye to Liz and watched her plane take off, he numbly drove straight to the Evans’ law firm. All the employees were stunned when they saw Max’s crestfallen expression. He walked to his father’s office where Philip and Andrew and Isabel were already discussing things.
“Max.” Isabel was surprised to see him, but more so because of his miserable state.
“Liz went home to Roswell.”
“Son, we’re doing everything we can as quickly as possible. We’ve already sent out the court order for a paternity test. All you need to do now is go to the hospital for a quick DNA testing and wait for the results.” Philip tried to console him.
“I want her to suffer the way she made my family suffer!” Max exploded. “If the test proves that that kid isn’t mine, I want him taken away from her! Spare no expense. I want to see that bitch go through hell!”
None of the other Evans was shocked by Max’s outburst. They knew how Max can get when he’s furious and they also knew that he would stop at nothing until he gets what he wants.
“Leave that up to me, bro. She’ll get what she deserves.” Andrew grinned.
to be continued...
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 25
Isabel’s agency was in chaos. All of her staff was tasked to find anything and everything they can on Pam Troy. She had them find all the news and gossip about the starlet and she was giving orders left and right for her employees to interview people who knew the woman.
When Isabel came across an address where Pam might be, she decided to take a chance and headed out for a drive. She saw an old apartment building and walked up to the number indicated on the piece of paper she had in her hands. She was hoping that maybe someone was still living there who knew Pam Troy.
However, she was a bit surprised when Troy herself opened the door.
Pam looked at the woman with venom in her eyes. She knew who the other woman was and she also knew that it was Max who had sent her here in the first place.
“Is he here with you?” she asked.
“Who?”
“Max, of course. Who else?”
“No.”
“You’re wasting you’re time then.” Pam started to close the door but Isabel slapped it back open.
“So where’s your baby? The one you claim belonging to Max.”
“He’s asleep.”
“Yeah, right.” Isabel shoved Pam away and went inside.
The apartment was shabby. Clothes littered everywhere, dirty dishes on the sink and some baby bottles too. Isabel gulped at the sight of that.
Pam noticed that Isabel looked a little too long at the bottles.
“I’m not lying.” Pam sneered.
Isabel turned to face her. “We’ll see.” she challenged.
Pam’s eyes narrowed in anger. “Why don’t you tell that brother of yours that he should be spending some quality time with me and OUR son than wasting away at some hospital with that bitch.” she goaded.
Isabel was so close to slapping Pam to kingdom come but she knew that she couldn’t. Doing so would only give her more ammo to use against her family. She did feel guilty for somewhat being part of the cause of Liz’s pain. And if this is one way of being able to repay her, then she would stop at nothing to bring Pam Troy down.
“You’re lucky that my brother is already building a case against you. Otherwise, I would have beaten you up.”
“Oooh, I’m shaking.” Pam mocked.
Isabel just ignored her and headed for the door.
“Oh by the way, expect a court order for a paternity test soon.” She opened the door and left. But not before smirking at Pam’s pale face.
Isabel quickly met with her father and Andrew. They talked about the best course of action to take and when Isabel told them about the encounter she had with Pam Troy, they knew that they had the upper hand. Then Isabel’s staff came in and showed the Evans a few clippings about Troy’s escapades. All three smiled at each other.
Max slept on a chair while clutching Liz’s hand. Liz started to stir awake and when she couldn’t move her left hand, she glanced down and found Max asleep on top of her arm. Tears quickly filled her eyes as she recalled the past events. With her other hand, she touched her still protruding womb, relief seeping through her when she realized she was still carrying their twins.
Max was awakened by the shifting on the bed. He smiled brightly when he saw that Liz was finally awake.
“Lizzie.”
Liz didn’t utter a word. She simply looked at her husband.
The anguish that Max saw in her eyes pained him.
“I want to go home, Max.”
“I know, baby. We’re going home soon. I just have to get Dr. Dupree and tell her that you’re awake and—”
Liz shook her head. “No, I want to go home…to Roswell.”
“Uh…ok. We’ll go to Roswell.”
“You’re not listening to me.” Liz was getting agitated. “I want to go home, alone, by myself…without you.”
“What?” Max was taken aback.
“I can’t stay here. I can’t go home with you either.”
“Liz, what are you saying?”
“I want to go home for a while, to sort this all out.”
“You…you’re not…you’re not leaving me, are you?” The last part came out as a whisper.
Liz gazed into Max’s eyes and she saw fear in them. Max was literally very afraid of losing her.
“No.”
“Oh Liz, I’m so sorry.” Max wept and hugged her close.
“Tell me the truth, Max.”
Max pulled back and wiped his eyes, but the tears still came.
“I don’t know what to say that would not make you mad.”
“Just tell me, please. I think I deserve that much.”
Max took a deep breath, “Just know that no matter what I love you, ok?”
At Liz’s nod, he began to tell her what she wanted to know.
“I have to admit, at first I thought making you my girlfriend would boost my image.”
Liz wanted to whimper at his confession but she held it in and waited for him to continue.
“I’m sure you’ve read stuff about me and my womanizing. They’re…they’re true, Liz. I was a player. Even when you were already my girlfriend, I played around that first time I was in New York. But when I came back here, I was falling deep. And I didn’t know what was happening. When I went to New York again, I had gone out with a couple of women, but the desire wasn’t there. The thought of being intimate with them made me sick. The only image I had in my head was you, seeing you when we make love. Your face was the one that kept popping in my head. And when I came back to you the second time, I have never been with anyone else but you.”
Liz was weeping at the hurt she felt, but she also knew that she was still in love with the man before her.
“You have to understand, Liz. I have never felt anything remotely close to what I feel for you. I have never known what it was like to love someone. Ever since I got in this business, women threw themselves at me and I accepted their offers with open arms. And then you came into my life and that was when I understood what love is like, what it means to be loved for everything that I am, not just my popularity but for just being me, and most importantly, to love someone with my entire being. That’s what you brought in my life. You changed me, Liz. And having to lose you would kill me. Don’t ever leave me, Liz. You’re the only thing important in my life. I know I made mistakes in the past. But I have changed. You have to believe me. I’m so sorry for everything and I would do whatever it takes to make it up to you. Just tell me what you want me to do and I’ll do it. I love you, Liz, only you and our babies.” The desperation in Max’s voice was evident.
“I know that, Max. But I just need some time to think about things.”
“Ok.” Max said dejectedly. “How long will you be gone?”
“I…I don’t know.”
Max began to weep silently.
“Max.”
“I understand what you’re saying Liz, really, I do. But…I just can’t…”
Liz’s heart ached for him but she had to leave until she has sorted all the mess in her head. She knew, no, she felt how much Max loves her but going back to their house would only bring her more pain. So she had no other choice but to leave.
“Will…will you be coming back to me?” Max held on to her hand tightly.
As Liz’s heart and mind battled, she decided to go with an old advice from a wise woman. She decided to follow her heart.
“Always.”
As Max said goodbye to Liz and watched her plane take off, he numbly drove straight to the Evans’ law firm. All the employees were stunned when they saw Max’s crestfallen expression. He walked to his father’s office where Philip and Andrew and Isabel were already discussing things.
“Max.” Isabel was surprised to see him, but more so because of his miserable state.
“Liz went home to Roswell.”
“Son, we’re doing everything we can as quickly as possible. We’ve already sent out the court order for a paternity test. All you need to do now is go to the hospital for a quick DNA testing and wait for the results.” Philip tried to console him.
“I want her to suffer the way she made my family suffer!” Max exploded. “If the test proves that that kid isn’t mine, I want him taken away from her! Spare no expense. I want to see that bitch go through hell!”
None of the other Evans was shocked by Max’s outburst. They knew how Max can get when he’s furious and they also knew that he would stop at nothing until he gets what he wants.
“Leave that up to me, bro. She’ll get what she deserves.” Andrew grinned.
to be continued...