I don't have time to thank each of you individually, but just know that I appreciate all the feedback and thoughts *hugs* Nora - I think you were peeking at my notes...cause the answers to your questions are in this post!
Chapter 30
“Liz, didn’t the doctor say that you needed to stay in bed?” Serena asked as she watched Liz tidy up her room.
“I know that, but what the hell am I supposed to do in this room all day long? I want to go to school but ever since the last ultrasound where they told me the baby was lying low I haven’t been allowed out of this house. I’m going crazy!” Liz screamed out in frustration. She was going stir crazy. Max wouldn’t let her move, the farthest she could go was downstairs for dinner, and even then Max would carry her. She thought she would have a few more months of freedom, but instead in her seventh month she was confined to a bed.
And to top everything off, her birthday was a week away. She would be turning seventeen and that meant she was another month closer to becoming a mother. Liz did have to admit that the notion was growing on her daily. The more she felt her baby move around inside of her, the more in love she fell.
Max had been keeping her as entertained as possible, but that didn’t mean it helped at all. In fact, she felt like the walls were closing in on her. She was homebound now and the baby wasn’t even here yet. What would she do once it was? Liz wasn’t naïve enough to think that it would be easier, in fact she knew it was going to try all of the patience she had.
Liz didn’t want to focus on that now though, she needed to find something to wear that didn’t make her feel like a beached whale. Serena, Max and her were going to watch a movie downstairs, while Jeff and Nancy babysat Sophia. At first Serena protested, she didn’t want to burden the Parkers. That notion however died quickly when she saw how excited the Parkers were about spending the evening with Sophia.
“Liz are you sure its okay for your parents to watch Sophia? I can easily take her and we can all watch the movie together,” Serena questioned, still not all that certain that the Parkers weren’t doing it for Liz’s sake. Serena knew just how frustrated Liz was being stuck in the house.
Liz whipped her head around to regard her friend. “Are you crazy? My parents were practically doing cartwheels in the living room when I asked them,” she stated as she scrunched up her nose in disgust. The shirt she’d just chosen to wear was hideous. What was she thinking buying it?
“Right, okay. Well, are you sure that you and Max don’t want to be alone tonight?” Serena rushed out. In all honesty, Serena had never had friends like Max and Liz before and so she didn’t know what the boundaries were.
“Serena, if I’m alone with Max anymore I think we might actually make history and make another baby while I’m pregnant,” Liz answered nonchalantly. Serena couldn’t help but blush, that was so much more than she ever wanted to know about Max and Liz’s relationship. Liz however was none the wiser, in fact as she progressed further into the pregnancy the less tolerance she had for skating around things. She simply spoke her mind no matter the situation.
“I’ll take that as a no,” Serena and Liz both giggled and shook their heads. Liz continued to dig through her closet and finally found a solid blue maternity shirt and her maternity shorts. She hated them more than anything on the planet, but it was all she could fit in.
“Alright, I’m going to get dressed and I’ll meet you downstairs,” Liz called out as she made her way into the bathroom, but she was stopped by Serena’s voice.
“I’ll just tell Max to meet you up here in a few minutes,” Serena called out before exiting the bedroom. She left quickly knowing that Liz would slam her bathroom door in frustration. Despite that, Serena couldn’t help but laugh at her friend.
****
“This is just stupid! I can do it myself, Max!” Liz yelled out as soon as she entered her bedroom after changing, only to find her boyfriend lying on her bed.
Max took one look at her round belly and flushed features, and fell even more in love with her. She left him completely breathless and completely wanting. He honestly didn’t know what came over him, but he found himself having to tea himself away from her daily. He ached to be with her, but she didn’t want to be touched. Max wasn’t looking for sex, he was looking to hold her at night until she fell asleep and kiss her until her lungs were starved for air.
As soon as school started up again they would sit together in Liz’s room doing homework or studying. Some nights Max would fall asleep and several times Jeff or Nancy would pass by and see them. At which point, they decided that they wouldn’t say anything and after a few more times, Max and Liz took the silence over the situation as their approval.
Liz protested immediately. Saying that she needed time to herself and Max had to admit that it hurt. He felt as if she didn’t want to be with him, but later came to understand that she just needed her space.
“Baby, I know you can. But I’m just worried. This is serious Liz, I don’t understand why you don’t treat it that way?” Max tried to reason with her, but he saw her jaw set in protest. He ran a tired hand over his eyes and just waited for the argument, he knew they would have, to begin.
“I am treating it seriously, but you are all driving me crazy! I’m stuck in this room all day, my tutor comes, I have lunch and then the tutor leaves and I’m still in this room!” Liz bit out angrily.
“Liz, you need to calm down.” Max stood and placed a soothing hand on her shoulder, pulling her gently into an embrace. He kissed the top of her head and waited until he felt the muscles in her back relax.
“I know, I don’t know what to do with myself all day. I’m all by myself again, Max.” Liz looked up at him teary eyed and that’s when she saw realization in his eyes.
“God! How stupid could I be? I’m so sorry, Liz,” he said as he pulled her closer. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know why I didn’t see it. You were alone for so long,” he concluded.
“Yes, I don’t like it Max. Ever since you came into my life, I’ve never been lonely and now I’m here and,” she cried gently fisting her hands in the cotton of his shirt.
“Shh, its okay. How about we compromise?” Max pulled away slowly framing her face in his hands.
“What?” she sniffled.
“We watch a movie tonight, and how about next week I’ll get permission to leave school early, we’ll send the tutor home and you and me go to the park. I have a surprise for you,” he finished with a gleam of excitement in his eyes.
“Really?” she asked hopeful.
“Promise, now let’s go feed the two most important people in my life,” Max smiled and kissed her lips, then dropped to his knees, lifted up her shirt and placed a kiss on her stomach.
“I love you, Max.” Liz smiled down as she ran a hand through his hair.
“I love you, too Liz. I love both of you so much.” Max stood and on his way he leaned over and lifted Liz into his arms.
Liz giggled, if she was honest, she loved Max carrying her everywhere. But she didn’t think he needed to know that.
Secretly though, Max saw the glint of excitement in her eyes every time he lifted her in his arms. That’s how he knew no matter how much she protested, that she loved it.
****
“Its not comfy here, I want to move,” Liz grumbled out as she practically rolled herself off of the couch.
“Liz, where do you want to sit then?” Max asked rolling his eyes for the forth time that evening.
The first time was when she wanted the lights off, then back on again. The second, she needed a snack, but after he’d returned with it, she complained that she didn’t want it after all and to take it away. The third was when she complained that the movie wasn’t loud enough, and then proceeded to cover her ears when the music played, and said it was too loud. Now, the complaint was the seating arrangement. She wanted to sit on the couch a moment ago, and now she wasn’t ‘comfy’? Max wanted to scream at her insanity.
Serena just sat back and watched Max get beyond frustrated with Liz. She had to admit she was pleasantly surprised that Max had not let on about how pissed he was with her. She laughed to herself, when Liz would look away from him, and he would roll his eyes in exasperation. She was a bit much, and Serena knew if it was her, she would have yelled at Liz already. Therefore, Serena had to commend Max on his control.
“Liz, where do you want to sit?”
“In my bed,” Liz mumbled out playing with edge of the throw pillow. She knew she was making Max crazy, but she didn’t do it on purpose.
“In your bed? Your bed that is upstairs? The one that you were just complaining about being in all day, everyday? Is that the bed?” Max asked as he threw himself, with a heavy sigh, into the love seat.
“Yes, I can’t help it. It’s not...”
“Comfy?” he finished for her. “I know Liz. Serena, could you grab the movie and we’ll meet you upstairs?” Max asked already standing to pick Liz up.
“No problem,” Serena answered and made her way over to the television.
Max walked up the stairs carrying her, and felt his knees give a little when her lips attached themselves to his neck.
“Liz,” he moaned out softly and turned so that his back was against the wall. He needed to regain his balance. She was driving him crazy. Correction, her tongue and lips were driving him crazy.
“I’m sorry baby, really. I don’t mean to drive you crazy,” Liz whispered into his ear and she knew exactly what she was doing.
Max swallowed thickly and was just about to push off the wall to carry her the rest of the way, but was stopped when he felt her frame his face in her hands and plunge her tongue into his mouth.
He sucked on her tongue gently, and then slanted his lips over hers in a feverishly. He took the time to relish in the feel of their tongues colliding against one another, stroking until they both were forced to part.
“Liz…” he panted and rested his head in the crook of her neck.
“Hmm…” she moaned out softly, knowing she was driving over the edge.
“We…have to get upstairs before Serena…” he couldn’t finish the sentence when he looked up and was met with the overwhelming desire to be with her.
“You’re right. Okay, let’s go.” Liz nipped at his neck once more but then pulled away when she heard him moan her name. She was teasing him and she knew that they could do nothing, at least not yet, she thought wickedly.
Max composed himself enough to continue the journey up the stairs and down the hallway to her room. Once inside he placed her in the center of her bed, and opened the bedroom windows. It was a nice night, and he loved the fresh air, just as he knew she did as well.
“Hey guys! I have the movie, and I brought up some drinks too, so we don’t have to go back downstairs for it,” Serena said as she made her entrance. She quickly crossed the room and put the movie on.
Meanwhile, Liz and Max sat next to one other holding hands, and as soon as Serena turned and took her seat, they turned to each other and mouthed, ‘I love you’. They shared their secret smile before settling against the bed to watch the remainder of the movie.
****
“What do you mean we’re moving? I don’t want to move.” Liz protested at dinner the next night. Jeff and Nancy had been talking and since both Liz and Max had applied to Yale University, they knew that Max and Liz couldn’t live on their own with a child, so they decided to sell their house and move closer to the University.
“Liz, calm down. Its not a big deal,”
“Mom, you don’t even know if we’ll get in, and yet you’re ready to move?” Liz asked. Even though she knew there was a very slim chance that her and Max would not be accepted, but that wasn’t her point.
“Honey, you and Max are at the top of your class,” Nancy tried reason with her daughter. Truth was, Yale had sought out the two teens to discuss a possible future at their institution a few months back. Jeff and Nancy met with the recruiters and knowing that Max and Liz would have a child soon, they knew it would be wise if they both attended the same University. Which is also, when they decided to move.
“Liz, I think it’s a great idea. This way we can both go to school during the day and have the nights free with the baby,” Max entered the conversation after sitting in silence.
“I guess, but what about Serena? She’s just been so great to me and Max and, if we move all the way over there, when will I see her?” Liz asked desperately, it would be hard enough moving to a new state, with a baby and attending college. Nothing would be familiar and she wouldn’t have Serena who was her best friend, now that her other friends were too busy being normal teenagers.
“Liz, you’ll be able to see her and we can fly her and Sophia to visit.” Jeff hated to see his baby girl upset, but there was just no way to make her completely happy.
“Right,” Liz said as she played with her piece of apple pie. Max saw how upset she was. He knew her and Serena had grown close and knowing that Serena had already gone through what Liz would be going through, he knew Liz felt comforted by having her around.
“What if she came with us?” Max asked, not really sure where the question had come from.
“What?” Nancy, Jeff and Liz all turned curious eyes towards him.
“Think about it? Serena will be graduating, and no she’s not going to Yale, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other schools in the area,” Max began to formulate a plan in his head. This could work, he thought. Now he just needed to convince everyone else.
“Max, Serena can’t afford to live on her own. Right now, she barely makes it living with her mother, who only tolerates her and Sophia,” Liz bit out angrily, not at Max but at Serena’s home situation. Liz was shocked when Serena had explained that when she found out she was pregnant, that her mother wanted her to get rid of it. And had even kicked her out of the house for a few months, Liz couldn’t imagine her parents ever doing such a terrible thing to her. At that moment, Liz had realized how good she actually had it and now Max was suggesting Serena struggle once again?
“I know, but we can help her,” Max began only to be cut off by Jeff.
“Son, that is a fantastic idea, but there is a problem with the plan,” he started and gave his wife a small smile. Liz and Max were confused.
“What’s the problem?” Max asked wondering what the hell was going on.
“Nancy and I have been talking and we thought it might be best if you and Liz had your own place. Now, it would be on the same property, so we wouldn’t be far but if you wanted to, you could both live together.” Jeff finished and hoped for the best.
Max thought living with Liz and his child, as a real family was great. Liz however felt even more pressure compound, what would be expected off her? Being a mother was going to be a full time job, she wasn’t ready for the rest. Max saw the emotions flicker across her face faster than he could determine what they meant.
“Liz, are you okay?” he asked soothingly.
“I am,” she didn’t know what to say.
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” Max began trying to mask the pain.
“No, it’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just that I don’t know if I’m ready.” Max closed his eyes against the pain. He didn’t want to force her to live with him, and he completely understood what she was trying to convey, but it still hurt.
“Honey, no one said you and Max have to get married, in fact it will be a smaller home on the same property and it will have four bedrooms, so there will be plenty of room,” Nancy knew exactly what was going on in her daughter’s head. Therefore, she wanted to make sure she understood that just because her and Max would be living together, if they so chose, that didn’t mean that she had to turn into a wife.
Liz looked around the table and realized she jumped to conclusions. Max didn’t want her as his wife; he wanted to just be with her and their baby. Which is what she had been craving prior to her becoming pregnant. Her parents weren’t pushing her away, in fact they were trying to give her freedom to grow up and become her own person whoever that might become. Liz finally realized why her parents had decided to move. She turned and smiled at Max softly, then turned to her parents.
“Thank you. And I’m sorry. I just freaked out for a minute, but I’m okay now. I think it’s a great idea.” Liz smiled genuinely. Max, Jeff and Nancy all breathed a sigh of relief. They didn’t want to pressure her into anything. In fact, they felt it was the most logical thing.
“I’ve got it!” Liz shouted out.
“What?” Max asked and couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm.
“Serena could move in with us Max, couldn’t she?” It seemed like the most logical answer to Liz and to Max as well.
Jeff and Nancy had to disagree. “Why not?” Liz asked sorrowfully.
“Liz, you are going to have a newborn in a one story home. Have you thought about how much sleep both you and Max would not be getting? If Serena has her daughter and is trying to work and go to school, the baby will keep her up all night. I hardly think that is fair.” Nancy pointed out reasonably.
“So then she can live with your mother and I,” Jeff deduced quickly. He knew his wife so well. Surely they would have a home with more rooms than they knew what to do with.
“Seriously? You both wouldn’t mind?” Max asked. Honestly, he thought Liz’s idea was the best option. Of course, that was before Nancy had pointed out the obvious problem with that arrangement.
“Not in the least. We would love nothing more than to have Serena and her daughter join us, that is if she agrees.”
“Oh, she will!” Liz smiled happily as she lifted her fork to her lips.
****
“Will you still love me if I keep getting fatter?” Liz asked in the darkened room later that same evening. Max had crawled under the covers to hold her that night. He was thankful that she allowed him to spoon against her.
“Liz, I’ll love you no matter what. You have nothing to worry about,” he whispered out and kissed the shell of her ear.
“You’re too good to me,” she surmised.
“Nah, you’re totally worth it,” he joked and waited until she turned her head and sealed her mouth with his.
“You love rubbing my belly don’t you?” Liz questioned with a giggled when she felt his large, warm hands settle underneath her nightshirt.
“I love rubbing every part of you, the belly is just a bonus.” Max smiled against her shoulder.
“I’m sorry we can’t do anything and I’m sorry that I’m always so tired,” Liz apologized softly. She felt his arms come around her pulling her closer to him.
“Liz, all I want is to be with you. I don’t care how, just so long as I’m here.” Max kissed her neck softly and felt her snuggle closer to him.
“Hmm, I love you.” Liz murmured lazily.
“Me too, baby. Me too,” Max rested his head against her pillow and waited until she fell asleep.
He laid there in silence, listening to her breathing. He hoped that no matter what came in the future, that they would always have moments like this.
TBC…
P.S. - I updated - Confessions of a Married Man & Making the Magic Last
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But now it's over. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that has helped me along the way, whether it be via feedback, PM's, e-mail or good ole' MSN. There were times I was at a stand still with the story, but all of you combined helped me through those rough patches.